The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery (LIB) markets for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage has exponentially increased lithium demand, driving research into sustainable extraction methods. Traditional lithium recovery from brine using evaporation ponds is resource intensive, consuming vast amounts of water and causing severe environmental issues. In response, Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technologies have emerged as more efficient, eco-friendly alternatives. This review explores two promising electrochemical DLE methods: Electrodialysis (ED) and Capacitive Deionization (CDI). ED employs ion-exchange membranes (IEMs), such as cation exchange membranes, to selectively transport lithium ions from sources like brine and seawater and achieves high recovery rates. IEMs utilize chemical and structural properties to enhance the selectivity of Li⁺ over competing ions like Mg²⁺ and Na⁺. However, ED faces challenges such as high energy consumption, membrane fouling, and reduced efficiency in ion-rich solutions. CDI uses electrostatic forces to adsorb lithium ions onto electrodes, offering low energy consumption and adaptability to varying lithium concentrations. Advanced variants, such as Membrane Capacitive Deionization (MCDI) and Flow Capacitive Deionization (FCDI), enhance ion selectivity and enable continuous operation. MCDI incorporates IEMs to reduce co-ion interference effects, while FCDI utilizes liquid electrodes to enhance scalability and operational flexibility. Advancements in electrode materials remain crucial to enhance selectivity and efficiency. Validating these methods at the pilot scale is crucial for assessing performance, scalability, and economic feasibility under real-world conditions. Future research should focus on reducing operational costs, developing more durable and selective electrodes, and creating integrated systems to enhance overall efficiency. By addressing these challenges, DLE technologies can provide sustainable solutions for lithium resource management, minimize environmental impact, and support a low-carbon future.

The purpose of this study is to compare the spectral indices for a two-dimensional river algae map using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) hybrid system. The UAV and USV hybrid systems can overcome the limitation of not being able to effectively compare images of the same region obtained at different times and under different seasonal conditions, when using a method of comparing and analyzing with absolute values in remote sensing. Radiometric correction was performed to minimize the interference that could distort the analysis results of the UAV imagery, and the images were taken under weather conditions that would minimally affect them. Three spectral indices, namely, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized green–red difference index (NGRDI), green normalized difference vegetation index (GNDVI), and normalized difference red edge index (NDRE) were compared for the chlorophyll-a images. In field application and correlational analysis, the NDVI was strongly correlated with chlorophyll-a (R² = 0.88, p < 0.001), and the GNDVI was moderately correlated with chlorophyll-a (R² = 0.74, p < 0.001). As a result of comparing the chlorophyll-a concentration with the in-situ chlorophyll-a imagery by UAV, we obtained the RMSE of NDVI at 2.25, and the RMSE of GNDVI at 3.41.

Membrane distillation (MD) has potential to concentrate produced water from the hydraulic fracturing process, leading to reduced disposal cost for shale gas wastewater. However, it is anticipated that MD suffers from severe membrane fouling if it is directly applied to treat such wastewater. Accordingly, this study explored the techniques for pretreatment of shale gas wastewater to mitigated fouling in MD process. Microbubble treatment and filtration were considered in lab-scale experiments. A synthetic shale gas wastewater was prepared based on the compositions of the real produced water and flowback water.Experimental results showed that the microbubble pretreatment could be successfully applied for MD treatment of the synthetic shale gas wastewater. Without pretreatment, flux decline in MD system was found to be very high (>90% decrease within 600 min). After the pretreatment using microbubbles, the flux maintained constant even after 700 min. This was attributed to the removal of colloidal particles in the feedwater by applying microbubbles. The efficiency of the pretreatment was improved by combining microbubble treatment with filtration using 1-μm filter. Based on these results, MD was applied to treat real wastewaters after pretreatment using a media filter. The flux decline was observed after 800 min of MD operation, suggesting not only particulate fouling but also scale formation should be properly controlled prior to MD treatment.

Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), including pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), present significant challenges for conventional water treatment processes and pose potential risks to environmental and human health. To address these issues, nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technologies have gained attention. This study aims to evaluate the performance of NF and RO membranes in removing TrOCs from wastewater and develop a predictive model using the Solution Diffusion Model. Experiments were conducted using a stirred cell setup at various target concentrations, stirring speeds, and operating pressures, with acetaminophen and caffeine selected as representative pharmaceutical compounds. The results demonstrated that most of the pharmaceutical compounds were effectively removed, showing excellent performance. NF membranes exhibited high permeate flux with somewhat lower removal efficiency (average 84.17%), while RO membranes demonstrated high removal efficiency (average 99.21%), highlighting their importance in trace pharmaceutical treatment. The predictive model based on the solution diffusion model correlated well with the experimental data, suggesting its potential utility for large-scale system applications. This study confirms that NF and RO membranes are effective technologies for the removal of TrOCs from wastewater, offering a promising solution to the challenges posed by trace pharmaceutical contaminants.

Combined cycle power plants (CCPPs) use large amounts of water withdrawn from nearby rivers and generate wastewater containing ions and pollutants. Despite the need for wastewater reclamation, few technologies can successfully convert the wastewater into make-up water for CCPPs. Therefore, this study aimed to apply capacitive deionization (CDI) for wastewater reclamation in CCPPs. Using a bench-scale experimental unit, which included ion exchange membranes and carbon electrodes, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the operating conditions of the CDI process to increase the total dissolved solids (TDS) removal and product water ratio. The optimal conditions were found to be a voltage of 1.5 V, a flow rate of 15 mL/min, and an adsorption/desorption ratio of 1:0.8. The changes in CDI performance with time were also studied, and the foulants on the membranes, spacers, and electrodes were examined to understand the fouling mechanism. The TDS removal decreased from 93.65% to 55.70% after 10 days of operation due to the deposition of scale and organic matter. After chemical cleaning, the TDS removal rate recovered to 93.02%, which is close to the initial condition.

The consistent quality control of ultrapure water (UPW) in semiconductor manufacturing depends on removing trace organonitrogen compounds such as urea. Due to its high solubility, chemical stability, and neutral polarity, urea is inadequately removed by conventional processes. Even at low concentrations, it elevates total organic carbon (TOC) and reduces electrical resistivity. The use of reclaimed water as a sustainable feed stream amplifies this challenge because its nitrogen content is variable and persistent. Conventional methods such as reverse osmosis, ultraviolet oxidation, and ion exchange remain limited in treating urea due to its uncharged, low-molecular-weight nature. This review examines the performance and limitations of these processes and explores electrochemical oxidation (EO) as an alternative. Advances in EO are analyzed with attention to degradation pathways, electrode design, reaction selectivity, and operational parameters. Integrated systems combining EO with membrane filtration, adsorption, or chemical oxidation are also reviewed. Although EO shows promise for selectively degrading urea, its application in UPW production is still in its early stages. Challenges such as low conductivity, byproduct formation, and energy efficiency must be addressed. The paper first discusses urea in reclaimed water and associated removal challenges, then examines both conventional and emerging treatment technologies. Subsequent sections delve into the mechanisms and optimization of EO, including electrode materials and operational parameters. The review concludes with a summary of main findings and a discussion of future research directions, aiming to provide a comprehensive foundation for validating EO as a viable technology for producing UPW from reclaimed water.