This research aimed to identify and understand mechanisms thar underlie the beneficial effect of ozonation on removal of pesticides and other micropollutants by Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration. This allows optimization of the combination of these two processes, termed Biological Activated Carbon filtration. The study concluded that ozonation significantly improves removal of atrazine by GAC filtration not only due to the wellknown effect of oxidation of atrazine, but also due to the effect of partical oxidation of Background Organic Matter (BOM) present in water. Ozone-induced oxidation of BOM was found to improve adsorption of atrazine in GAC filters. Biodegradation of atrazine in these filters wasnot demonstrated. Higher GAC's adsorption capacity for atrazine and faster atrazine's mass transfer in filters with ozonated rather than non-ozonated influent were explained as due to ozonated BOM. Both can be attributed to enhanced biodegradability and reduced adsorbsbility of partially ozidated BOM compounds, resulting in their increased biodegradation and decreased adsorption in GAC filters.

This research aimed to identify and understand mechanisms thar underlie the beneficial effect of ozonation on removal of pesticides and other micropollutants by Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filtration. This allows optimization of the combination of these two processes, termed Biological Activated Carbon filtration. The study concluded that ozonation significantly improves removal of atrazine by GAC filtration not only due to the wellknown effect of oxidation of atrazine, but also due to the effect of partical oxidation of Background Organic Matter (BOM) present in water. Ozone-induced oxidation of BOM was found to improve adsorption of atrazine in GAC filters. Biodegradation of atrazine in these filters wasnot demonstrated. Higher GAC's adsorption capacity for atrazine and faster atrazine's mass transfer in filters with ozonated rather than non-ozonated influent were explained as due to ozonated BOM. Both can be attributed to enhanced biodegradability and reduced adsorbsbility of partially ozidated BOM compounds, resulting in their increased biodegradation and decreased adsorption in GAC filters.

In many developing countries, water demand is increasing while surface- and groundwater resources are threatened by pollution and overexploitation. Hence, a more sustainable approach to water resources management and water treatment is required. In this capacity, bank filtration is a natural treatment process that makes use of the storage and contaminant attenuation capacity of natural soil/rock. However, BF is site-specific and a significant knowledge gap exists regarding the design and management of bank filtration systems, particularly in developing countries. This research aimed to address these gaps and contribute to the transfer of bank filtration to developing countries. This study comprised both column and batch laboratory-scale experiments to determine the effect of environmental variables such as temperature, raw water organic composition and redox conditions on the removal of chemical pollutants such as organic matter, micro-pollutants and heavy metals as well as the mobility of iron, manganese and arsenic under anaerobic conditions. Ultimately, the effectiveness of BF for supplying high drinking water quality was assessed in a case study in Egypt. The study showed that more than 80% of biodegradable organic matter was removed during infiltration at temperatures between 20 and 30 °C. However, humic compounds enriched during BF, required post-treatment. Moreover, high humic content of infiltrating water reduced the removal of heavy metal and promoted the release of metal (loids) into the infiltrating water, rendering it more feasible to install BF wells within surface water systems with low levels of organic matter. Moderately-hydrophobic organic micropollutants were most persistent and required infiltration times longer than 30 days for complete elimination even at high temperatures (>20 °C). Finally, design parameters such as the number of infiltration wells should be configured to minimise the proportion of polluted groundwater in the pumped water. Overall, this study provides insight into the effectiveness of BF in removing chemical pollutants from surface water and proposes guidelines for the successful application of BF in developing countries where arid conditions and high temperatures prevail.

Reliable methods to predict membrane scaling and fouling are important tools in the control of these phenomena. This dissertation focuses on the development and application of methods to predict and prevent barium sulphate scaling and particulate fouling in membrane filtration systems.

Sustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for our children. This discipline addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, starvation, obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control and biodiversity depletion. Novel solutions are proposed based on integrated knowledge from agronomy, soil science, molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, ecology, economy, philosophy and social sciences. As actual society issues are now intertwined, sustainable agriculture will bring solutions to build a safer world. This book series analyzes current agricultural issues and proposes alternative solutions, consequently helping all scientists, decision-makers, professors, farmers and politicians wishing to build safe agriculture, energy and food systems for future generations.