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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Water Management and Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414972
Research Project: Increased Water Security through Safe Reuse of Reclaimed Water

Location: Water Management and Conservation Research

Title: Graphene-coated sand for enhanced water reuse: Impact on water quality and chemicals of emerging concern

Author
item NUSAIR, ABDULLA - University Of Mississippi
item BARBER, MADELYN - University Of Mississippi
item PRAMANIK, AVIJIT - Jackson State University
item ETHRIDGE, CHEYENNE - University Of Mississippi
item Williams, Clinton
item ALKHATEB, HUNAIN - University Of Mississippi
item UCAK-ASTARLIOGLU, MINE - Us Army Engineer Research And Dvelopment Center
item RAY, PARESH - Jackson State University
item D'ALESSIO, MATTEO - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Science of the Total Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2024
Publication Date: 6/19/2024
Citation: Nusair, A., Barber, M., Pramanik, A., Ethridge, C., Williams, C.F., Alkhateb, H., Ucak-Astarlioglu, M., Ray, P.C., D'Alessio, M. 2024. Graphene-coated sand for enhanced water reuse: Impact on water quality and chemicals of emerging concern. Science of the Total Environment. 945. Article 174078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174078.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174078

Interpretive Summary: Graphene-coated sand is an advanced filtration media that can improve water quality. Three types of sand (Ottawa, masonry, and concrete) were coated with graphene and evaluated as a treatment for removing turbidity, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand, bacteria, and 10 chemicals of emerging concern (Aciclovir, Diatrizoic acid, Levodopa, Miconazole, Carbamazepine, Diphenhydramine, Irbesartan, Lidocaine, Losartan, and Sulfamethoxazole). Graphene-coated sand was found to be effective at increasing water quality by reducing turbidity 14.1%, chemical oxygen demand 69.1%, and bacterial contaminants 99.91 %. in addition, CEC's were also reduced between 45-90%. Graphene-coated sands were found to be an effective water treatment for reuse of wastewater.

Technical Abstract: This paper investigates the potential of graphene-coated sand (GCS) as an advanced filtration medium for improving water quality and mitigating chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in treated municipal wastewater, aiming to enhance water reuse. Utilizing three types of sand (Ottawa, masonry, and concrete) coated with graphene. The three types of sand differ in terms of surface morphology, particle shape, and chemical composition to assess the impact of these characteristics. Additionally, sand coated with graphene and activated graphene coated sand were both tested to understand the effect of coating and activation on the filtration process. The materials were characterized using digital microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis. The material's efficiency in removing turbidity, nutrients, chemical oxygen demand (COD), bacteria, and specific CECs (Aciclovir, Diatrizoic acid, Levodopa, Miconazole, Carbamazepine, Diphenhydramine, Irbesartan, Lidocaine, Losartan, and Sulfamethoxazole) was studied. Our findings indicate that GCS significantly improves water quality parameters, with notable efficiency in removing turbidity, COD (14.1% and 69.1% removal), and bacterial contaminants (64.90 and 99.91% removal). The study also highlights the material's capacity to remove certain CECs, showcasing its potential as a sustainable solution for water reuse applications. This research contributes to the field by providing a comprehensive evaluation of GCS in water treatment, suggesting its viability for practical applications in enhancing water reuse strategies.