Abstract
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Weber-Shirk and Lion (2015) developed fractal models of floc properties in hydraulic flocculators, a water treatment approach with a low carbon footprint. Combining theoretical analysis with published data, they determined the fractal dimension as well as the particle size at which application of fractal geometry to aggregates is appropriate.
Kim et al. (2016) studied silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in wastewater and used Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) to characterize silver sulfidation products resulting from thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Their measurements of digester performance led to the important conclusion that sulfide-rich anaerobic environments, like digesters, have the capacity to mitigate the biological effects of AgNPs.
Alvarez-Corena et al. (2016) studied TiO2/UV photocatalytic degradation of complex chemical mixtures of emerging contaminants. Through identification of by-products and first-time reporting of several reaction pathways, they discovered the importance of gemfibrozil for which the oxidation derivatives are especially reactive. Their work illustrates the importance of controlling reaction conditions to avoid accumulation of intermediates that may be even more toxic than the parent contaminants.
Yang et al. (2016) investigated the potential of hydrogen peroxide and solid peroxides for decomposition of organic chemical pollutants in water, with a focus on the activation mechanism. In this article, they reported novel findings of the significant activation potential of alkaline phosphate and its capacity to accelerate organic chemical decomposition.