Silver-loaded ZnO/CaO/NiO ternary nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through an environmentally friendly sol–gel process utilizing Malva sylvestris extract as a natural reducing and capping medium. The photocatalytic capability of the resulting materials was investigated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in aqueous solutions with varying pH values. Structural characterization and microscopic analyses confirmed the formation of well-crystallized heterogeneous oxide networks in which Ag nanoparticles were effectively dispersed throughout the matrix. The photocatalytic performance was found to be highly influenced by the reaction medium, with markedly improved dye removal observed under neutral and basic conditions. UV–Vis analysis revealed a gradual decline in the characteristic absorption band of MB during light exposure, confirming progressive decomposition of the organic contaminant. Kinetic studies showed that the degradation process followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics, while the calculated rate constants increased as the solution became more alkaline. The enhanced activity at higher pH was attributed to stronger interactions between the catalyst surface and dye molecules, increased generation of reactive oxidative species, and more efficient suppression of electron–hole recombination. Overall, the synthesized Ag-incorporated ZnO/CaO/NiO nanocomposites demonstrate considerable potential as efficient photocatalysts for the treatment of dye-polluted wastewater and other environmental cleanup applications.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are vital infrastructure for public health and the environment, but they are increasingly challenged by climate change. This study aims to assess the interaction between climate risks and WWTP performance. The study integrates expert-based assessment with energy analysis to capture both operational vulnerability and climate-related impacts. A survey of experts highlighted the vulnerability of treatment stages to rising temperatures and increased rainfall. All respondents indicated impacts on sand and oil separation, primary sedimentation, and final sedimentation under elevated temperatures, while 93
Optimizing water distribution in water conveyance and delivery systems is of paramount importance in arid and semi-arid regions such as Iran. In this research, a hybrid control framework was developed by integrating the Twin-Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient reinforcement learning algorithm (RL-TD3) with a classical proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller and a linear Integrator-Delay (ID) canal simulator for the concrete-lined E1-R1 canal within the Dez irrigation network. The key novelty of this study lies in the development of a Lyapunov-constrained RL-enhanced PID–ID control architecture that simultaneously guarantees closed-loop stability and improves irrigation performance under both normal and severe water-deficit conditions in a real large-scale irrigation canal. The proposed framework was utilized to investigate and evaluate the hydraulic performance of the canal under multiple operational scenarios. The performance assessment employed four standard irrigation metrics—adequacy, efficiency, equity, and dependability—alongside statistical indices to evaluate eight operational scenarios encompassing both normal and water-deficit conditions. The results demonstrate that the developed ID model is computationally efficient and sufficiently accurate, achieving an average relative error of 0.066 for flow variations of up to 30
Abstract Access to safe and reliable water is fundamental to human health and well-being and to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6. Yet many remote Australian communities, including First Nations communities, face challenges in securing drinking water. Supplies do not consistently meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, with adverse public-health and socio-economic consequences. Using a targeted literature search and narrative synthesis, this review integrates peer-reviewed literature, Australian government and utility reports, and technical case studies on drinking-water quality and decentralised treatment in remote Australia. Sources were selected for contextual relevance and analysed according to field performance, technology readiness, operational requirements and whole-of-life sustainability consideration. The review examines water-quality challenges and evaluates established and emerging treatment technologies for remote settings. Conventional approaches, including disinfection, filtration and desalination, provide proven treatment functions but may be constrained by isolation, harsh environmental conditions, ageing infrastructure and limited operation and maintenance capacity. Emerging technologies, including electrochemical processes, forward osmosis and membrane distillation, may offer context-specific advantages but lack long-term validation in remote Australian communities. A technology assessment framework guides selection of robust, adaptable and scalable solutions. The findings emphasise sustained community engagement, responsible resource stewardship, performance monitoring and maintenance, effective brine management and demonstrated technology readiness. Research and implementation priorities include emerging-technology field validation, advanced real-time monitoring, renewable-energy integration, and fit-for-purpose governance and investment models aligned with community priorities, institutional capacity, regulatory requirements and whole-of-life service delivery. These priorities would strengthen the reliability, resilience and long-term sustainability of remote drinking-water services.
Different countries occupy a good position in pea production and cultivation. In this research, pea (Pisum sativum) shells are low or no-cost material used for the removal of malachite green from water, which are otherwise discarded as waste or used as animal fodder or their pods are used as vegetables. Minimum research is available on the use of pea shells for the removal of dyes from the water. Hence, this was a better opportunity to work on it. The shells of P. sativum were dried, crushed into a fine powder and used for the removal of MG from its aqueous solution. Solutions of different concentrations from 10 to 80 mg/L of MG were prepared from its stock solutions. The pea shell adsorbent powder was pre-treated under different conditions to enhance its efficiency, e.g., boiling in water, treatment with benzoic acid, and microwave oven exposure. Different doses from 0.04 g to 0.24 g of biosorbent were added in 20 mL of solution and effects of different parameters like dose (0.24 g), concentration of MG (10 mg/L), contact time (30 min), and pH (7.0) were studied to get the maximum
