Phthalic acid esters, including diethyl phthalate (DEP), which are considered as top-priority and hazardous pollutants, have received significant attention over the last decades. It is vital for industries to select the best treatment technology, especially when the DEP concentration in wastewater is high. Meanwhile, anaerobic biofilm-based reactors are considered as a promising option. Therefore, in the present study, for the biological removal of DEP from synthetic wastewater, two different anaerobic biofilm-based reactors, including anaerobic fixed film baffled reactor (AnFFBR) and up-flow anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor (UAnFFFBR), were compared from kinetic and performance standpoints. As in the previous studies, only the kinetic coefficients have been calculated and the relationship between kinetic coefficients and their interpretation has not been evaluated, the other aim of the present study was to fill this research gap. In optimum conditions, 90.31 and 86.91% of COD as well as 91.11 and 88.72% of DEP removal were achieved for the AnFFBR and UAnFFFBR, respectively. According to kinetic coefficients (except biomass yield), the AnFFBR had better performance as it provided a more favorable condition for microbial growth. The Grau model was selected as the best mathematical model for designing and predicting the bioreactors’ performance due to its high coefficients of determination (0.97 < R 2). With regard to the insignificant variations of the calculated Grau kinetic coefficients (K G) when the organic loading rate (with constant HRT) increased, it can be concluded that both of the bioreactors can tolerate high organic loading rate and their performance is not affected by the applied DEP concentrations. Both the bioreactors were capable of treating low-to-high strength DEP wastewater; however, according to the experimental results and obtained kinetic coefficients, the AnFFBR indicated higher performance. Although the AnFFBR can be considered as a safer treatment option than the UAnFFFBR due to its lower DEP concentrations in sludge, the UAnFFFBR had lower VSS/TSS ratio and sludge yield, which could make it more practical for digestion. Finally, both the bioreactors showed considerable methane yield; however, compared to the UAnFFFBR, the AnFFBR had more potential for bioenergy production. Although both the selected bioreactors achieved nearly 90% of DEP removal, they can only be considered as pre-treatment methods according to the standard regulations and should be coupled with further technology.

Emerging and hazardous environmental pollutants like phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the recent concerns worldwide. PAEs are considered to have diverse endocrine disrupting effects on human health. Industrial wastewater has been reported as an important environment with high concentrations of PAEs. In the present study, four short-chain PAEs including diallyl phthalate (DAP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), and phthalic acid (PA) were selected as a substrate for anaerobic fixed film fixed bed reactor (AnFFFBR). The process performances of AnFFFBR, and also its kinetic behavior, were evaluated to find the best eco-friendly phthalate from the biodegradability point of view. According to the results and kinetic coefficients, removing and mineralizing of DMP occurred at a higher rate than other phthalates. In optimum conditions 92.5, 84.41, and 80.39% of DMP, COD, and TOC were removed. DAP was found as the most bio-refractory phthalate. The second-order (Grau) model was selected as the best model for describing phthalates removal.

In this study, magnetic zeolite nanocomposite with an average diameter of 90–100 nm was synthesized through a chemical co-precipitation method, and used for the adsorption of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) from aqueous solution. The surface morphology of the adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, vibrating sample magnetometer, dynamic light scattering, Brunauer, Emmett, Teller, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Batch system was followed to optimize the conditions for the removal of DMP. The adsorption experiments were carried out in terms of pH, contact time, various concentrations of DMP as well as nanocomposite, and temperature. The results showed that with increase in adsorbent dosage and contact time increased the adsorption efficiency. However, the efficiency decreased by increasing pH and initial DMP concentration. Experimental data were found to fit well with Langmuir isotherm (R² > 0.981) in all the studied temperatures. Adsorption kinetics also showed that the adsorption behavior follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² > 0.996). Besides, thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that the adsorption process occurs spontaneously and is inherently endothermic. The DMP adsorption efficiency did not change after 10 batch sorption–desorption reactions, indicating the potential application prospect of the synthesized adsorbent in real water treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted major economic and health burdens across the world. On the other hand, the potential airborne transmission of SARS-COV-2 via air can deeply undermine the effectiveness of countermeasures against spreading the disease. Therefore, there is an intense focus to look for ways to mitigate the COVID-19 spread within various indoor settings. This work systematically reviewed articles regarding airborne transmission of SARS-COV2 in various indoor settings since the onset of the pandemic. The systematic search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases and has returned 19 original articles carefully screened with regard to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed that the facilities, such as dormitories and classrooms, received the most attention followed by office buildings, healthcare facilities, residential buildings, and other potential enclosed spaces such as a metro wagon. Besides, the majority of the studies were conducted experimentally while other studies were done using computer simulations. United States (n = 5), Spain (n = 4) and China (n = 3) were the top three countries based on the number of performed research. Ventilation rate was the most influential parameter in controlling the infection spread. CO₂ was the primary reference for viral spread in the buildings. The use of natural ventilation or a combination of mechanical and natural ventilations was found to be highly effective in the studies. The current work helps in furthering research on effective interventions to improve indoor air quality and control the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA is considered an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) because it interferes with hormonal systems. Over the decades, several techniques have been proposed for BPA removal in wastewaters. This study discusses recent advancements and progress of effective techniques for BPA removal, including membrane, adsorption, advanced oxidation process (AOPs), and biodegradation. The mechanisms of BPA adsorption on modified adsorbents include pore-filling, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. Among the various agricultural waste adsorbents, Argan nut shell-microporous carbon (ANS@H20–120) exhibited the highest efficiency in removing BPA. Furthermore, the performance of magnetic treatment for activated carbon (AC) regeneration is introduced. According to the present study, researchers should prioritize agricultural waste-based adsorbents such as ACs, highly microporous carbons, nanoparticles, and polymers for the removal of BPA. In particular, the combination of adsorption and AOPs (advanced oxidations) is regarded as an efficient method for BPA removal. A series of relevant studies should be conducted at laboratory, pilot, and industrial scales for optimizing the application of agricultural waste-based AC to reduce BPA or other refractory pollutants from an aqueous environment.