By 2030, the global deficit in freshwater resources is projected to reach 40%, in direct correlation with global population growth. To cope with this increase in demand, the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations, specifically goal No. 6 of the 2030 agenda, have identified wastewater as a new resource. Indeed, the reuse of wastewater offers three primary advantages: (i) Reused wastewater can serve as an alternative to water from natural reserves, particularly in sensitive geographical areas experiencing water stress. (ii) Wastewater reuse limits the discharge of treated water into the natural environment, which is often a source of pollution, thus helping preserve ecosystems. (iii) Wastewater reuse also facilitates the extraction of valuable compounds, such as fertilisers and precious metals, along with energy generation. This review focuses on various uses of water and the global reuse of treated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The focus then shifts to pesticides, exploring the origins of these emerging contaminants and their impacts on aquatic environments. An in-depth analysis of diuron follows, examining its origin, toxicity and regulation and the performance of existing advanced treatments to produce safe water from WWTP effluents.

The development of the oil industry and the fossil fuel economy has historically improved the quality of life for many people, but it has also led to significant environmental degradation. As a response, the concept of ‘sustainable development’ has gained prominence recently, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic progress with environmental protection. Among the many environmental challenges we face today, preserving water resources is one of the most pressing. To tackle this issue, researchers are focusing on strategies to reduce water consumption and enhance the efficiency of wastewater treatment. In this context, the present review explores recent advancements in a novel coupled treatment process that integrates adsorption in activated carbon fiber (ACF) and photocatalytic oxidation using TiO₂ to remove micropollutants from wastewater. This innovative approach would allow for the in situ and continuous regeneration of ACF with TiO₂ photocatalysis, increasing the oxidative degradation efficiencies of the supported semiconductor thanks to the adsorbent material, all under the possibility of a durable and low-cost process using solar radiation. In addition, this is vital for meeting regulatory standards, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and safeguarding human health.

Ecosystem restoration success heavily depends on community participation, yet the psychological factors influencing local commitment and sense of ownership in mangrove conservation remain understudied. The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), Colombia, represents a critical case where community engagement is essential for successful mangrove restoration. This study investigates the relationship between environmental psychology and community participation in mangrove reforestation, focusing on identifying key psychosocial factors and barriers that influence participation in ecosystem restoration. Through a mixed-method approach involving quantitative surveys (n = 100), semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions, the research examined psychosocial factors and participation indicators using correlation and regression analyses. Results revealed a strong emotional connection to the mangrove ecosystem (r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and predominantly positive attitudes toward conservation (85% of participants). Social norms showed a significant influence on participation (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), with social norms and community sense explaining 64% of participation variance (adjusted r² = 0.64, F(3,96) = 58.92, p < 0.001). However, low perceived self-efficacy emerged as a significant barrier, present in 40% of participants. The findings suggest that interventions strengthening self-efficacy and promoting community commitment could significantly increase reforestation participation. Success depends on integrating technical training with psychosocial support and establishing appropriate logistical frameworks. These findings provide practical guidelines for designing more effective community-based restoration programs in similar socio-ecological contexts.

Pesticides are emerging contaminants that pose various risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems. In this work, diuron was considered as a contaminant model to investigate the influence of the back-side illumination mode (BSI) on the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ coatings grown on Pyrex plates by metal–organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). A photoreactor working in recirculation mode was irradiated at 365 nm with ultraviolet A (UVA) light-emitting diodes in BSI. The degradation of diuron and its transformation products was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography, ion chromatography, and total organic carbon analysis. The coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Five coatings containing 3, 7, 10, 12 and 27 mg of TiO₂ exhibited different morphology, crystallinity, thickness and photocatalytic activities. The morphology and crystallinity of the coatings had no significant influence on their photocatalytic activity, unlike their mass and thickness. TiO₂ contents less than 10 mg limit the photocatalytic activity, whereas those greater than 15 mg are inefficient in the BSI because of their thickness. The maximum efficiency was achieved for coatings of thickness 1.8 and 2 µm with TiO₂ contents of 10 and 12 mg, revealing that the photocatalyst thickness controls the photocatalytic efficiency in the BSI.

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is a finite element and finite volume method for studying the reaction rate, mass diffusion and concentration of species. We are used the LBM to investigate the effect of the Damköhler number (Da) and Reynolds number (Re) on the laminar flow in a channel with an open square cavity and a reactive bottom wall in two dimensions in a first-order chemical reaction. The reactant A is transported through the cavity, where it undergoes a reaction on the reactive surface, resulting in the synthesis of product B. The effect of Da < 1 on the reaction rate is negligible for all investigated Re values; the generation of product B is slower because of the effect of the momentum diffusivity on the velocity inside the cavity. For Re = 5 and 1 < Da ≤ 100, the concentration of B inside the cavity reaches the maximum for Da = 100, and A is absorbed almost entirely on the bottom of the cavity. In our simulations, we observed that for all values of Re and Da > 100, the effect of the momentum diffusivity is negligible in the cavity, and the reaction on the surface is almost instantaneous.

Introduction: sanitation is one of the main global challenges in building resilience to the effects of climate change and global warming. Wastewater treatment is one of the activities that enables the production of renewable energy through the use of biogas.Objetive: the objective of this study was to estimate the amount of electricity available in the city of Santa Marta, Colombia, from the production of biogas generated at a wastewater treatment plant and to estimate the avoided emissions with biogas recovery and the non-use of local electricity.Methodology: a case study was conducted in Santa Marta, Colombia, where the potential for electricity generation from biogas produced at a wastewater treatment plant was estimated. Both the annual electricity generation potential and the avoided CO2eq emissions from using biogas instead of local electricity were calculated.Results: the results of the case study show significant potential for biogas recovery, with an annual energy generation potential of 5,348.345 MWh. Additionally, it was estimated that 25,101.16 tonnes of CO2eq could be avoided each year.Conclusions: the use of wastewater for electricity generation is crucial for environmental sustainability, and its application in the circular bioeconomy presents a significant opportunity. This study highlights the importance of implementing sustainable technologies for renewable energy production from unconventional sources, such as biogas from wastewater.