Increasing dependency on pharmaceutical compounds including antibiotics, analgesics, antidepressants, and other drugs has threatened the environment as well as human health. Their occurrence, transformation, and fate in the environment are causing significant concerns. Several existing treatment technologies are there with their pros and cons for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater (PWW). Still, electrocoagulation is considered as the modern and decisive technology for treatment. In the EC process, utilizing electricity (AC/DC) and electrodes, contaminants become coagulated with the metal hydroxide and are separated by co-precipitation. The main mechanism is charge neutralization and adsorption of contaminants on the generated flocs. The range of parameters affects the EC process and is directly related to the removal efficiency and its overall operational cost. This process only could be scaled up on the industrial level if process parameters become optimized and energy consumption is reduced. Unfortunately, the removal mechanism of particular pharmaceuticals and complex physiochemical phenomena involved in this process are not fully understood. For this reason, further research and reviews are required to fill the knowledge gap. This review discusses the use of EC for removing pharmaceuticals and focuses on removal mechanism and process parameters, the cost assessment, and the challenges involved in mitigation.

This study presents a comprehensive numerical evaluation of the right earthen embankment of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (NSD), focusing on its behavior under steady-state seepage, rapid drawdown, and seismic loading conditions. Located between seismic Zones II and III, the dam was analyzed using GeoStudio software specifically SEEP/W, SLOPE/W, and QUAKE/W. Steady-state seepage analysis defined the phreatic surface and served as input for slope stability assessment, which yielded safe Factors of Safety (FOS) of 2.809 (upstream) and 1.696 (downstream) under static conditions. During rapid drawdown, the upstream FOS decreased to 2.544 due to pore pressure redistribution. Seismic loading was assessed using pseudo-static analysis with a horizontal seismic coefficient of 0.1 g, consistent with IS 1893:2002 guidelines. A 10-second duration was selected to represent the bracketed duration of significant strong motion for moderate earthquakes in stable continental regions. Displacement monitoring showed maximum crest deformation of 0.107 m. The post-earthquake FOS was calculated at 1.055, indicating marginal stability. To mitigate seismic vulnerability, horizontal geosynthetic reinforcement was introduced into the upstream shell at 4 m spacing and 20 m length. This intervention improved the post-seismic FOS to 1.714. Reinforcement material properties were validated using ASTM D 4632, D 3786, D 4833, and D 4533 standards for survivability classification. Additionally, seepage losses through the embankment and toe drain were quantified using Darcy’s Law to support long-term maintenance planning. The study concludes that geosynthetic reinforcement significantly enhances seismic stability and provides a viable strategy for retrofitting zoned earth dams in moderate seismic environments.

Slope instability is a common problem in mountainous road corridors, particularly in regions characterized by steep terrain, weak soil formations, and intense seasonal rainfall. The Bonga-Felegeselam road in southwestern Ethiopia has experienced several slope failures during construction due to these unfavorable geological and hydrological conditions. This study investigates the causes of instability and evaluates appropriate stabilization measures for two critical cut slopes located between Stations 16+900 to 16+980 (left-hand side, LHS) and Stations 35+200 to 35+300 (both LHS and RHS) of LOT I: Bonga Asphalt Road Project. Detailed site characterization was conducted through field observations, geometric configuration, soil classification, and laboratory testing to determine the relevant geotechnical properties. Slope stability was assessed using both deterministic and probabilistic approaches based on the Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM). The analyses considered different groundwater conditions to evaluate the influence of rainfall-induced saturation on slope stability. The results indicate that the slopes become highly unstable under fully saturated conditions, with factors of safety ranging from 0.657 to 0.916 and failure probabilities between 41.8% and 95.3%. Sensitivity analysis further showed that slope stability is more sensitive to variations in the friction angle than cohesion. To mitigate the instability, a combination of masonry retaining walls, surface drainage, and subsurface drainage systems was proposed. Post-remediation analyses demonstrated a significant improvement in slope stability, increasing the factor of safety to values between 1.57 and 1.90. The findings highlight the importance of integrating deterministic and probabilistic approaches to develop reliable stabilization strategies for rainfall-prone mountainous regions.

The escalating concern over plastic waste and the urgent need for sustainable construction materials have catalyzed innovative approaches, such as the integration of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers into concrete. This study rigorously investigates the mechanical and durability performance of PET fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) through comprehensive laboratory experiments and advanced simulation techniques. Concrete mixtures featuring 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% PET fibers were meticulously tested for key properties, including compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, as well as water absorption, chloride penetration, and freeze-thaw resistance. The results unequivocally indicate that both tensile and flexural strength significantly enhance with increasing fiber content, achieving optimal performance at a 1.0% PET fiber addition. Moreover, a compelling case study on the use of PFRC in seismic infrastructure in Taiwan revealed substantial improvements in energy dissipation and crack control, validated by finite element analysis and thorough life-cycle cost evaluation. These groundbreaking findings underscore the immense potential of PFRC to not only fulfill critical structural performance needs but also to advance environmental sustainability, particularly in earthquake-prone regions. Such advancements represent a pivotal step toward a more sustainable and resilient future in construction.