Integration of Technologies for Advanced Monitoring and Improved Performance of Filtration/Photocatalysis Systems in Water Treatment Hernán Dario Rojas-Mantilla, Juliano Passaretti Filho, Saidy Cristina Ayala-Durán, Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni ACS Omega, 2026 This study describes the development and evaluation of an economical, portable online monitoring system (OMSys) based on ESP32 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth technology, commercial sensors, and electronic measurement modules. The OMSys was designed for real-time evaluation of parameters such as the flow rate, temperature, and pH in a filtration/photocatalysis reactor used to degrade contaminants in treated water. The developed system allows simultaneous acquisition of all studied parameters at 2 s intervals and facilitates real-time data transmission via Wi-Fi, automatic storage, and real-time control (on/off) of other devices connected to the reactor, such as an LED irradiation source and a peristaltic pump, via a smartphone. The OMSys was evaluated in the degradation of venlafaxine (VEN) and used as a test model. Thanks to its performance, the OMSys facilitates the study of parameters that directly influence the degradation of emerging contaminants in real time, identifying critical stages in the water treatment process such as membrane stability (leaching). This enables real-time adjustments and improves the study's final performance, demonstrating an approximately 80% reduction in VEN concentration within 120 min, a response influenced by changes in pH and temperature throughout the experiment. This system can be integrated with other recirculating loops for a variety of applications. The versatility of the OMSys is also evident, as it allows the addition of new sensors to monitor other parameters of interest. Easy upgrades with the addition of modern components improve performance, reduce problems such as obsolescence, and minimize environmental impact.
Evaluation of Venlafaxine (VNF) Degradation under Sunlight and UV/Vis LED Irradiation: Effects on Kinetics and Transformation Products in Urban Effluents Using WO3/BiVO4Heterostructure Hernán Dario Rojas-Mantilla, Pedro Paes Mauriz, Saidy Cristina Ayala-Durán, Eduardo Luiz Rossini, Paulo Clairmont Feitosa de Lima Gomes, Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni, Juliana Ferreira de Brito ACS Es and T Water, 2026 High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study investigated the influence of irradiation systems (UV/Vis LED and sunlight) on the degradation and transformation of the antidepressant venlafaxine (VNF) in water and urban effluent from the city of Araraquara, Brazil, using the WO 3 /BiVO 4 heterostructure as a photocatalyst. The characterization of the material revealed a broad UV–Vis range (250–490 nm), a band gap energy of 2.1 eV, and a surface area of 2.19 m 2 g –1 with large macropores, which facilitate suitable separation and improved transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers. The results demonstrated that the catalyst is versatile, exhibiting first-order kinetics and achieving total degradation (remaining concentration lower than 0.10 mg L –1 ) within 15 min of applying sunlight irradiation, under different pH levels (4, 6, and 8) using an initial concentration of 1.0 mg L –1 . The degradation mechanism is influenced by the species h +, O 2 •–, and HO •, identifying the formation of 13 transformation products (TPs), resulting from hydroxylation, demethylation, and dehydration reactions, with several isomers present. Additionally, the type of light used to activate the photocatalyst affects the degradation pathway, forming different intermediates under LED and sunlight irradiation. These results demonstrate the excellent application potential of the WO 3 /BiVO 4 heterostructure for degrading organic compounds, such as VNF.
