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        <title>Frontiers in Environmental Engineering | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-engineering</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Environmental Engineering | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-04-04T17:04:24.478+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1785394</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1785394</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A nanotechnology roadmap for circular wastewater management]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Matthew Chidozie Ogwu</author><author>Fredrick Ojija</author><author>Olugbemiga Ojo Aliu</author><author>Rehema Ulimboka</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Circular wastewater management is increasingly recognized as a critical lever for climate resilience, water security, and the recovery of nutrients, energy, and strategic materials. Yet conventional treatment infrastructures remain constrained by limited selectivity, high energy demand, operational inflexibility, and weak coupling between treatment performance and resource valorization. Although nanotechnology has demonstrated substantial potential to address these bottlenecks, real-world deployment remains fragmented due to fouling, regeneration burdens, scale-up uncertainty, and unresolved safety and governance challenges. This review advances a roadmap that moves beyond material-centric assessments toward a decision-oriented, scale-aware framework for integrating nanotechnology into circular wastewater systems. Drawing on recent laboratory advances, pilot studies, and early demonstrations across municipal, industrial, and agro-food contexts, we situate nano-enabled adsorbents, catalysts, membranes, bio–nano hybrids, and nanosensors within integrated treatment–recovery–reuse platforms, rather than isolated unit operations. Techno-economic and life-cycle evidence is synthesized to identify conditions under which nano-enabled process trains deliver net circular value relative to incumbent technologies. The roadmap explicitly couples nanotechnology with digital intelligence, including nanosensing, AI-enabled monitoring, digital twins, and adaptive control, to translate nanoscale functionality into robust system-level performance under variable influent conditions. To support actionable decision-making, we introduce a pollutant-to-valorization decision matrix, a readiness–impact scorecard, and a 2030 research and standards agenda emphasizing safe-by-design materials, scalable regeneration, antifouling interfaces, hybrid bio–nano reactors, and harmonized risk assessment. By integrating materials science, digital process control, and governance, this roadmap positions nanotechnology as a systems enabler for circular wastewater infrastructure rather than a standalone fix.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1812162</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1812162</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Celebrating 1 year of Frontiers in Environmental Engineering]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Shujuan Zhang</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1757216</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1757216</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Valuing decentralized wastewater technologies: a stated preference analysis of advanced and cluster septic systems]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-24T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kyra Selina Hagge</author><author>Gregory Howard</author><author>Poonam Arora</author><author>Stephen Moysey</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Decentralized wastewater treatment systems are key to safe and reliable water access and climate resilience. They provide people with important infrastructure in areas where centralized sewerage is not feasible. While the technology behind traditional septic systems is mature, it has significant flaws leading to nutrient and pathogen release, especially when exposed to changing environmental conditions. Alternatives to traditional septic systems that are more effective at removing nutrients from wastewater have seen limited uptake. Some of these systems, advanced treatment systems, include an additional treatment step for increased treatment efficiency, so do cluster septic systems, which additionally serve multiple homes at once. Using the contingent valuation method, this paper contributes to existing literature by examining individual homeowner preferences and willingness to invest in an alternative onsite wastewater treatment system (OWTS) in the United States, focusing on advanced septic and cluster septic systems. Study respondents positively value both technologies. Specifically, valuation of advanced septic systems is significantly higher than for cluster septic systems. However, respondents asked to contemplate a new house purchase are willing to pay more than people who are asked to replace their existing system. This difference is statistically significant for advanced, but not for cluster septic systems. Our results can aid the development of policies to reduce nutrient inputs from existing and new OWTS by pointing wastewater professionals and policymakers towards areas where investment is most effective.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1766573</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1766573</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A structured forensic framework for PFAS source differentiation under target-only analytical constraints]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jenny E. Zenobio</author><author>Faezeh Pazoki</author><author>Adam Forsberg</author><author>Sheau-Yun Dora Chiang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Differentiating overlapping sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remains a central challenge in environmental forensics, particularly where investigations rely on targeted analytical datasets. Here, we present a tiered PFAS fingerprinting framework designed to extract source, process, and transport information using only target analytes. The framework integrates multiple, complementary lines of evidence, including compound-level concentrations, class- and carbon-number-resolved composition, diagnostic ratios, isomer distributions, precursor-product relationships, multivariate clustering, and geospatial pattern analysis, to support defensible source differentiation under data-limited conditions. The framework is demonstrated using groundwater datasets collected at two time points (2018 and 2024) from a complex industrial setting with overlapping PFAS inputs. Application of the framework resolves distinct PFAS mixture archetypes that reflect differences in manufacturing era, formulation chemistry, and hydrologic context. Identified profiles include sulfonate-rich mixtures consistent with electrochemical fluorination-era inputs, telomer-associated industrial mixtures characterized by fluorotelomer sulfonates and carboxylates, and short-chain-enriched profiles influenced by wastewater-related transport and mixing. Temporal evaluation shows changes in precursor abundance and terminal perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids, between sampling events, while diagnostic ratios and isomer patterns provide additional temporal context where quantifiable. Unsupervised clustering independently corroborates compositional similarity and hydraulic connectivity among site domains. Together, these results indicate that target-only PFAS datasets can support forensic interpretation when multiple, complementary analytical metrics are evaluated in a structured framework. The approach outlines an analytical structure that could assist PFAS investigations where source histories are complex and compound coverage is limited.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1667285</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1667285</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Contrasting effects of osmolytes on nitrifying biofilms under salinity stress]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Sharada Navada</author><author>Michele Laureni</author><author>Olav Vadstein</author><author>Mark van Loosdrecht</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Several industries produce high or variable salinity effluents. This can be challenging for the microorganisms involved in the biological water treatment of these effluents, especially the nitrifying microorganisms. Some microorganisms can adapt to a salinity increase through the uptake of certain molecules called osmolytes (or osmoprotectants) from the environment. This salinity acclimation strategy has been effective over a range of microorganisms. Thus, osmolyte addition could be a sustainable strategy for osmoregulation, but it has never been investigated in nitrifying biofilms. In this study, we investigated the impact of adding an osmolyte cocktail (1 mM each of trehalose, sucrose, glycine betaine, proline, carnitine, and ectoine) on the functionality of nitrifying biofilms undergoing a salinity increase from freshwater to seawater. The experiment was conducted on moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) operated in a sequencing batch mode. The osmoprotectants did not improve the nitrification activity on the first day after seawater transfer. Moreover, after 2 days in seawater, the treatment with osmolytes showed a severe reduction in the nitrification activity. This was accompanied by the growth of heterotrophic microorganisms in the medium facilitated by the uptake of osmolytes as substrate. Thus, the reduction in nitrification activity was likely due to competition between the heterotrophs and nitrifiers for resources (such as oxygen) and/or osmolytes. This study highlights the complex effects of the addition of osmoprotectants on biofilms undergoing a salinity change. Future studies should investigate the impact of individual osmoprotectants, as their potential as growth substrate and as osmoregulators may vary.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1719988</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2026.1719988</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A routine method for the semi-quantitative determination of porous carbonaceous material in wastewater matrices]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Methods</category>
        <author>C. Margreiter</author><author>A. Hofmann</author><author>A. O. Wagner</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The EU directive 2024/1990/EU mandates a fourth treatment stage for micropollutant removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Porous carbonaceous materials (PCMs) such as powdered activated carbon (PAC) and biochar are effective but require monitoring. This study presents a semi-quantitative, low-cost method for PCM determination in wastewater matrices using total carbon (TC) analysis. Calibration curves were established for activated sludge (AS), excess sludge (ES) and anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) matrices, yielding high linearity (R2 > 0.99). Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.10 to 0.25 gPCM/gDM. Recovery rates exceeded 95% for AS and ES matrices, with relative standard deviations below 5%, demonstrating excellent precision. Comparison with chemical oxygen demand (COD)-based estimates showed strong correlation, validating the approach. The method enables routine PCM monitoring in WWTPs lacking sophisticated analytical equipment, supporting regulatory compliance and process optimization. While native organic carbon cannot be excluded and the relatively high LOD reduces sensitivity, the method still delivers robust semi-quantitative estimates for basic routine PCM monitoring.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1677492</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1677492</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Sustainability impact assessment tools and frameworks]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-21T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Catherine N. Mulligan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Global challenges are increasing for the design of sustainable infrastructure and buildings for engineers. These include resource constraints and limited availability of water. Climate change from increasing greenhouse gas emissions is changing precipitation patterns, putting further constraints on resources. Incorporating sustainable practices into infrastructure projects is becoming increasingly important. However, there are many challenges related to this. Tools and frameworks for sustainability impact assessments have been developed to assist in the decision-making process. Environmental and economic indicators are well developed but social aspects are more difficult to quantify. This paper examines selected tools and frameworks and the requirement for future developments. Sustainability in engineering design is essential for working towards the UN Sustainability Development Goals.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1658313</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1658313</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Bioprocesses for the treatment and valorisation of gas emissions, odours, volatile compounds and greenhouse gases]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Cecilia Naveira-Pazos</author><author>María C. Veiga</author><author>Christian Kennes</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Different bioprocesses for the treatment as well as the valorisation of waste gases and greenhouse gases are briefly reviewed. Biotreatment technologies are based on the use of bioreactors for waste gas treatment, e.g., biofilter, biotrickling filter, bioscrubber, suspended growth bioreactor with gas diffusion. Aspects related to waste gas (bio)valorisation address the potential of aerobic knallgas bacteria (e.g., C. necator), microalgae, as well as anaerobic acetogenic bacteria aiming at obtaining a range of biofuels and bioproducts mainly through bioconversion of one carbon gases (e.g., CO2, CO). Valorisation of waste gases appears to be a promising innovative, cost-effective, sustainable alternative to conventional treatment technologies.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1721805</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1721805</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Mini-review of capillary-gas-treating bioreactors: opportunities and challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Norbertus J. R. Kraakman</author><author>Andrés F. Torres</author><author>Bruna Sampaio</author><author>Sergio Bordel</author><author>Raquel Lebrero</author><author>Raúl Muñoz</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Mass transfer in gas–liquid contactors requires energy input (e.g., mixing or pressure drop) and is a critical parameter for the design and application of process equipment. Efforts in the engineering of less energy-intensive reactors to enhance mass transfer rate are key in biological gas-liquid reactors that treat hydrophobic gaseous compounds. Mass transfer coefficients (KLa) in capillary reactors may be between one or two orders of magnitude higher than in conventional gas–liquid contactors. In this context, environmental abatement processes typically implemented in bioscrubbers or biotrickling filters, as well as industrial fermentation processes using airlift or stirred tank bioreactors containing cell cultures that are mass-transfer limited, could benefit from a capillary gas bioreactor configuration using a macro-channel (>1 mm internal diameter). This review discusses capillary reactors which can combine good mass transfer with relatively low pressure drop—two important factors affecting the cost-effectiveness of many industrial applications of biological gas treatment/processing systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1673461</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1673461</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Enzyme catalyzed oxidative humification reactions (ECOHRs): PFAS remediation and thatch management]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-10-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Umar Munir</author><author>Yifei Wang</author><author>Qingguo Huang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Enzyme-Catalyzed Oxidative Humification Reactions (ECOHRs) are primarily recognized for their involvement in the degradation of lignin. Lignolytic fungi produce extracellular enzymes under nutrient-deficient conditions, which can act directly or indirectly through small-molecule mediators to modify a range of compounds in the environment. The enzymes mediating ECOHRs mainly include laccases, lignin peroxidases (LiP), and manganese peroxidases (MnP), whose properties and catalysis mechanisms are summarized and compared in this review. As an example showcasing the possible environmental application of ECOHRs, the effects of ECOHRs in mediating the transformation of two key per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), were discussed. Reports have shown their significant concentration reduction (40%–59%) in systems with ECOHRs induced by amendments with laccases and mediators. Nontarget products identification using high-resolution mass spectrometry suggests that PFOA and PFOS degraded in ECOHR systems primarily through free-radical chain reactions. Reports on the use of laccase to reduce and manage the thatch layer on turf grass are also discussed in this review as another example of ECOHRs application. Laccase application at a rate of 2 U/cm2 once per month was found to be as effective as traditional thatch management methods, with the ECOHR effects leading to a reduction in the thatch thickness by 18%–22% in bermudagrass and 21%–30% in zoysiagrass. Overall, this review addresses the concept of ECOHRs, with the major enzymes and systems introduced, and highlights their possible environmental applications exemplified by PFAS remediation and thatch management.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1641277</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1641277</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Novel field trial for ocean alkalinity enhancement using electrochemically derived aqueous alkalinity]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-09-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Allison M. Savoie</author><author>Mallory Ringham</author><author>Carolina Torres Sanchez</author><author>Brendan R. Carter</author><author>Sean Dougherty</author><author>Richard A. Feely</author><author>Dave Hegeman</author><author>Julian Herndon</author><author>Tarang Khangaonkar</author><author>Jeremy Loretz</author><author>Tyson Minck</author><author>Todd Pelman</author><author>Lakshitha Premathilake</author><author>Chinmayee Subban</author><author>Jesse Vance</author><author>Nicholas D. Ward</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Ocean alkalinity enhancement is a proposed method of marine carbon dioxide removal that enhances the ocean’s uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and converts it to dissolved bicarbonate for long-term ocean storage. This method of marine carbon dioxide removal has been gaining attention for its potential to durably (10,000+ years) store large amounts of CO2 (Gt + where 1 Gt = 1 × 109 tons), while potentially ameliorating acidification in the vicinity of the alkalinity release. This study focuses on a novel release of electrochemically derived aqueous alkalinity into Sequim Bay, WA, through a previously established wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This research was made possible through the collaboration of industry, academic, and federal partners, which enabled the establishment of an Ebb Carbon electrochemical mCDR system at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim, WA, for ocean alkalinity enhancement field trials. During these field trials, pH was measured across the WWTP system from the initial alkalinity dosing, throughout the WWTP, and at the outfall. We use the NBS scale for pH throughout this study as it is the scale used in discharge permit limits specified for WWTP and NPDES regulation and compliance monitoring. The background pHNBS of Sequim Bay seawater was between 7.5 and 7.7 for the November and February field tests. The mixing tank’s pHNBS was raised to the maximum value permitted for the WWTP (9.0) and maintained across the system (±0.2) during the outfall releases. At the outfall, the elevated pH and alkalinity was quickly diluted, such that the region with a measurable signal was limited to within ∼2.5 m of the discharge pipe. We were able to successfully monitor an increase in pHNBS across all four pulses of alkalinity-enhanced seawater discharge during the February 2025 field trial, with peak pHNBS values of 8.3 or 8.1, as recorded by outfall-adjacent YSI Exo 2 sonde and SAMI-pH sensors, respectively. The alkalinity-enhanced seawater did not measurably alter the surrounding waters’ temperature, salinity, turbidity, or oxygen. This study provides proof-of-concept for a conservative small-scale release of electrochemically generated alkalinity-enhanced seawater from a coastal outfall.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1634737</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1634737</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Annual greenhouse gas fluxes from a thin-layer rooftop lawn]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-08-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Shohei Masuda</author><author>Takuya Mito</author><author>Misago Morii</author><author>Takanori Kuronuma</author><author>Hitoshi Watanabe</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Green roofs are a key solution for increasing green spaces in urban areas covered with impervious surfaces. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the ability of green spaces to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance carbon sequestration. To investigate whether green roofs contribute to GHG reduction, it is essential to quantify both carbon sequestration and GHG fluxes. However, few studies have investigated GHG fluxes from green roofs over the long term. To address this gap, this study measured and quantified the annual GHG (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O)) fluxes from a thin-layer rooftop lawn using clear acrylic automatic open/close chambers. In addition, we calculated CO2 sequestration based on the difference between total carbon contents in rooftop lawns (soil and turf) at the beginning and end of the experiment. The annual CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes were calculated to be −1762 g-CO2• m-2• year-1, 92.33 mg-CH4• m-2• year-1, and 0.53 mg-N2O•m-2• year-1 respectively, and CO2 sequestration by plants and soil was estimated to be −2,626 g-CO2•m-2•year-1 during the first year after construction. The CH4 and N2O fluxes from the rooftop lawn were significantly lower than those reported in other studies conducted on ground-level lawns. Based on these results, annual GHG emission (total of CO2, CH4, and N2O) from the rooftop lawn were calculated to be −1759 to −2,623 g-CO2e (CO2 equivalents). m-2• year-1, indicating that the rooftop lawn acts as GHG sink.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1601213</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1601213</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Two-decade spatiotemporal variations in ground-level ozone over Ontario, Canada]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-07-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Zhou Zang</author><author>Jane Liu</author><author>Erjia Ge</author><author>Yi Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionGround-level ozone (O3) remains a persistent air quality concern in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. Understanding long-term trends and spatially explicit details of O3 is important for supporting air quality management in Ontario.MethodWe construct a high-resolution (daily, 10 km) dataset of maximum daily 8-hour average O3 (MDA8 O3) over Ontario from 2004 to 2023, through a two-step machine learning model. The model has incorporated our hypothesis that accounting for transboundary influences can enhance the accuracy of O3 estimation.ResultsValidation against in-situ measurements confirms the hypothesized high accuracy of the dataset (R2 = 0.82, RMSE = 4.99 ppb), outperforming the traditional model and two existing datasets. The dataset reveals pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity in MDA8 O3 concentrations, which are low in northern Ontario but high in southern Ontario, especially in southwest Ontario. Seasonally, the provincial mean MDA8 O3 peaks in spring (∼40 ppb) and dips in autumn (∼27 ppb), while spatial MDA8 O3 in summer is most heterogeneous among all seasons, with a peak in southwestern Ontario. From 2004 to 2023, the provincial mean MDA8 O3 shows no significant trend, while a significant decreasing trend (−0.1 ppb/year, p < 0.05) appears in southern Ontario, where MDA8 O3 increases in winter but decreases in summer, both significantly. The number of days exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) O3 guideline range from 10 to 80 days in southern Ontario, with a decline of 1–4 days (up to 15%) per year over 2004–2023.DiscussionThe analysis suggests that O3 in southern Ontario is impacted by both anthropogenic emissions and meteorology. Reductions in O3 precursor emissions have effectively lowered summertime O3 across southern Ontario, partially offsetting the meteorological-driven increase in O3. This MDA8 O3 dataset offers a valuable resource for further research in environmental health, air quality policy, and O3 impact on agriculture.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1553712</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1553712</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Microbial decolorization of anthraquinone dyes: batch and continuous treatment systems - a mini-review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Swati Sambita Mohanty</author><author>Arvind Kumar</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionEnvironmental pollution and human exposure to dyes, particularly anthraquinone-based dyes from industries like textiles, paints, plastics, paper, and tanneries (a significant source of toxic waste in India), have increased. These dyes in wastewater pose a serious environmental threat due to their complex structure and resistance to traditional degradation methods. This mini-review explores microbial strategies as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for decolorizing these dyes, highlighting the limitations of physico-chemical methods.MethodsThis review examines existing literature on microbial decolorization of anthraquinone dyes. It discusses the isolation of microorganisms adapted to dye-contaminated environments as a key strategy. The factors influencing microbial decolorization in batch systems, such as optimal pH, temperature, and inoculum volume, are analyzed. Furthermore, continuous systems like packed bed bioreactors are explored, with a focus on the impact of flow rate and influent dye concentration on treatment efficiency.ResultsThe review synthesizes information on the effectiveness of various microbial strategies for anthraquinone dye decolorization in both batch and continuous systems. It highlights the potential of adapted microorganisms for efficient dye removal and discusses the influence of key operational parameters on decolorization performance in different reactor configurations.DiscussionThis mini-review emphasizes the growing importance of biological approaches for anthraquinone dye removal due to their cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability compared to physico-chemical methods. By providing a comprehensive overview of microbial strategies, this work contributes to the development of sustainable and effective wastewater treatment solutions for dye-containing industrial effluents.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1597684</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1597684</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Retrospective of DIET process for enhanced biogas production during anaerobic digestion of thermal/chemically pretreated waste activated sludge]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Abdulaziz Mohammed Almegbl</author><author>Ali Mohammad Rahmani</author><author>Kamaluddin Kamal</author><author>Faris Mohammad A. Munshi</author><author>Abbas Khursheed</author><author>Muntjeer Ali</author><author>Anwar Khursheed</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Hydrolysis of recalcitrant organic waste such as lignocellulosic biomass and waste-activated sludge (WAS) is a rate-limited step in anaerobic digestion (AD) due to the chemical and physical barriers that can be diminished by pretreatment of the waste. However, for readily biodegradable, soluble organics or already hydrolyzed organics, acetogenesis and methanogenesis become the rate-limiting steps owing to the discrepancy in the syntrophic relationship of the inter-microbial matrix. Enhancing the syntrophic relation of VFA oxidizing bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens via direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is vital for enhanced and efficient bio-methanation. DIET changes the metabolic pathways, which can be evidenced by microbial diversity, abundance, and associated enzymes. The stimulation of DIET can enhance biogas production and methane content and enhance VFA and ammonia-stressed digesters. The conductive materials for DIET in AD should be non-hazardous, chemically stable, cheap, recyclable, non-reactive, porous, conductive, microbe-friendly, and provide a large surface area. DIET stimulation and optimization via sustainable materials for high organic wastes are the future research areas that need comprehensive exploration.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1611782</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1611782</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Challenges in studying the toxicity of particulate air pollution on the respiratory system]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-11T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Ana Paula Cremasco Takano</author><author>José Guilherme Veras Closs</author><author>Laís Fajersztajn</author><author>Mariana Matera Veras</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM) from vehicular emissions, poses significant risks to human health, with evidence linking it to respiratory and other systemic effects. This review provides a brief historical overview of air pollution to understand the evolution of pollution sources and their health effects. Key challenges in PM exposure assessment are explored, particularly the difficulty of accurately estimating exposure and inhaled dose. The review also addresses PM deposition in the lungs, its elimination, and its impact on both local and systemic health. The role of the lung microenvironment, specifically the extracellular matrix, is critical to understanding PM-induced tissue damage and its broader implications. Despite research advancements, uncertainties persist regarding PM toxicity mechanisms, its role in chronic diseases, and the development of reliable biomarkers. This review emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach to address these health challenges, utilizing technological innovations to improve exposure assessment and better understand PM’s toxicological effects. Global collaboration is essential to mitigate health risks and protect public health.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1636424</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1636424</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Correction: Solid waste management service chain and sanitation safety: a case study of existing practice in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-06-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Correction</category>
        <author>Shegaw Fentaye Sisay</author><author>Sirak Robele Gari</author><author>Argaw Ambelu</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1612210</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1612210</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Artificial intelligence in environmental engineering and ecology: towards smart and sustainable cities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-05-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Sayali Sandbhor</author><author>Ketan Kotecha</author><author>Sayali Apte</author><author>Amit Srivastava</author><author>Vaishnavi Dabir</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1568542</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1568542</link>
        <title><![CDATA[A review on the recent mechanisms investigation of PFAS electrochemical oxidation degradation: mechanisms, DFT calculation, and pathways]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Gengyang Li</author><author>Mason Peng</author><author>Qingguo Huang</author><author>Ching-Hua Huang</author><author>Yongsheng Chen</author><author>Gary Hawkins</author><author>Ke Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have drawn public concern recently due to their toxic properties and persistence in the environment, making it urgent to eliminate PFAS from contaminated water. Electrochemical oxidation (EO) has shown great promise for the destructive treatment of PFAS with direct electron transfer and hydroxyl radical (⋅OH)-mediated indirect reactions. One of the most popular electrodes is Magnéli phase titanium suboxides. However, the degradation mechanisms of PFAS are still unsure and are under investigation now. The main methodology is the first-principal density functional theory (DFT) computation, which is recently used to explore the degradation mechanisms and interpret by-product formation during PFAS mineralization. From the literature review, the main applications of DFT computation for studying PFAS degradation mechanisms by EO include bond dissociation energy, absorption energy, activation energy, and overpotential η for oxygen evolution reactions. The main degradation mechanisms and pathways of PFAS in the EO process include mass transfer, direct electron transfer, decarboxylation, peroxyl radical generation, hydroxylation, intramolecular rearrangement, and hydrolysis. In the recent 4 years, 11 papers performed DFT computation to explore the possible PFAS degradation mechanisms and pathways in the EO process. This paper’s objectives are to: 1) summarize the main degradation mechanisms of PFAS degradation in EO; 2) review the application of DFT computation for studying PFAS degradation mechanisms during EO; process; 3) review the possible degradation pathways of perfluorooctane sulfonoic acid (PFOS) and per-fluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) during EO process.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1532795</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenve.2025.1532795</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Research progress on remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in soil by chemical oxidation - a review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Yaxing Dai</author><author>Zhihao Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Chemical oxidation remediation is a technique that involves the addition of chemical oxidants to contaminated soil to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), with the goal of reducing soil organic matter content or eliminating organic contamination. This paper reviews the research progress of several major chemical oxidation remediation technologies, including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-based Fenton and Fenton-like systems, calcium peroxide (CaO2)-based Fenton and Fenton-like systems, and persulfate-activated oxidation systems (e.g., Na2S2O8). Among these, the persulfate-activated oxidation system has recently emerged as a research hotspot due to its potential in eliminating TPHs from soil. The efficiency of TPHs degradation depends significantly on the activation method employed and the oxidative capacity of the system. Consequently, future research should focus on two critical directions: (1) the development of highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable activation methods; and (2) the enhancement of oxidative performance in existing systems, such as Na2S2O8/CaO2 and Na2S2O8/H2O2. In discussing the advancements in these major chemical oxidation remediation technologies, this paper specifically examines various persulfate activation methods and their corresponding treatment efficiencies. The aim is to provide insights and references for the development of efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly persulfate-activated oxidation systems, thereby promoting the application of chemical oxidation remediation technologies in the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils.]]></description>
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