Environmental Technology & Innovation最新文献

As agricultural technology advances, microplastics (MP), which result from the degradation of widely used plastic products, have gradually accumulated in the soil, raising serious environmental concerns. This study explores the toxic effects of di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) on spinach, focusing on various particle sizes and MP concentrations through hydroponic experiments. Experimental results demonstrated that MP/DnBP combined pollution significantly reduced key photosynthetic parameters, including net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, compared to treatments with DnBP or MP alone. Additionally, there was an increase in intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, suggesting that the inhibition of photosynthesis was due to non-stomatal factors. Moreover, spinach exposed to combined pollution conditions exhibited a notable decrease in maximum light energy conversion efficiency, electron transfer efficiency, and chlorophyll content. This disruption affected the synthesis of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. On the other hand, the contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione in spinach roots and leaves increased, indicating the plant’s defense mechanisms were activated in response the toxic effects of MP and DnBP. Despite this, there was a significant reduction in soluble protein and soluble sugar content and a marked increase in nitrite content, reflecting a decline in spinach quality. This decline was attributed to the exacerbation of DnBP’s toxic effects by MP. Overall, MP/DnBP combined pollution reduced the quality of spinach by impairing photosynthesis and sugar metabolism, potentially amplifying ecological risks to crop plants. This study provides insight into the synergistic effects of MP and DnBP on plant health.

Cadmium (Cd), a prevalent pollutant in near-shore seawater ecosystems, poses a significant threat to marine biota. Zinc (Zn) and Cd can have interchangeable physiological effects in marine plankton, and both can influence the synthesis of siliceous walls. Consequently, the concentrations of zinc and silicon may jointly impact the toxicity of Cd. This study endeavors to elucidate the combined effect of silicon (Si) and zinc (Zn) on the growth and physiological responses of the marine diatom species Thalassiosira weissflogii when subjected to Cd-induced stress conditions (190.7 μg L⁻¹). Our results reveal statistically improvements (p<0.05) in biomass production, reductions (p<0.05) in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and extracellular secretion in T. weissflogii when high concentrations of Si (172 µmol L⁻¹) and Zn (18.3 nmol L⁻¹) were applied simultaneously. Additionally, examination of Cd bioconcentration factors (BCF) derived from Cd uptake kinetics and intracellular Cd content measurements underscores the ability of elevated Si and Zn concentrations to reduce intracellular Cd accumulation (p<0.05). The ability of Si and Zn to mitigate Cd toxicity was further evidenced by increased cellular biosilica content and maintenance of cell morphology, suggesting a protective role in preserving structural integrity and growth. Our findings underscore the synergistic benefits of Si and Zn in enhancing the resilience of T. weissflogii to Cd stress, providing valuable insights into the potential use of nutrient amendments as a strategy for mitigating heavy metal contamination in marine environments.

Synthetic pesticides are discouraged for their environmental and health impacts, making research into alternatives essential. Several solutions of vegetal origin are being evaluated. The use of residual biomass from the agri-food system is particularly suitable due to its abundance and often unexplored potential. This study focuses on characterizing and assessing the activity of extracts obtained from wastes of the tomato cannery industry (including green fruit, stems, and leaves), which are rich in steroidal glycoalkaloids such as α-tomatine and tomatidine in different proportion. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was tested on three bacterial strains belonging to the Escherichia coli (EC), Xanthomonas campestris (XC), and Bacillus pumilus (BP) species, as well as the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea (BC). In particular, the mechanism of action of the extracts in relation to their surfactant properties was investigated, with the effect of the analytical standard serving as a reference. Both extracts showed strong inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth in vitro, with values reaching 100 %.

The inhibitory effect was mainly due to the presence of α-tomatine in the extracts, which reached its aggregated state of micelle at the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Tomatidine, although known for its biocidal properties, did not contribute significantly due to its limited solubility. However, exceptions to this pattern were observed for extract rich in tomatidine, which exhibited efficacy at doses below the CMC. A possible explanation could be the enhanced solubility of tomatidine (which corresponds to enhanced bioactivity) in the presence of surfactant secreted by BP or as a consequence of the interaction between tomatidine and α-tomatine at the pre-micellar state for BC. In vivo assays with BC showed a reduction in symptoms comparable to that of a commercial fungicide available for organic agriculture, particularly at low concentrations. The relative content of α-tomatidine and tomatidine in the extracts modulated their bioactivity. An excess of tomatidine relative to α-tomatine led to a decrease in biocidal effect due to the chemical interactions among these species.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) has gained significant attention for its exceptional processing properties and biodegradability. However, PBAT displays low biodegradability in natural environment. Many studies found degradable microorganisms in wastewater sludge, soil, compost, etc., but most are harmful to humans. This work aimed to explore the potential degradation of PBAT by probiotics. We screened 47 kinds of safety microbes for PBAT degradation, five probiotics showed positive degradation effects on PBAT. Among these, Lactobacillus paracasei T1–9 exhibited superior ability to degrade PBAT, achieving the highest percentage of weight loss at 1.77 ± 0.08 %, along with highly efficient growth in liquid culture. The biodegradability of PBAT was evaluated by using a multifaceted approach encompassing techniques including SEM, FTIR, XPS, and LC-MS. To improve the degradation efficiency, various factors (pH, the addition of gelatin and carbon source) were investigated. The additional gelatin improved the degradation of PBAT at a 3.43 ± 0.1 % weight loss. As the carbon source in medium, 1, 4-butanediol contributed the highest biodegradation effect compared to the other two monomers of PBAT. Interestingly, the supernatants of T1–9 incubated with PBAT displayed the highest lipase activity with 3.99 ± 0.03 U/mL. In conclusion, the probiotic T1–9 processed excellent capabilities in degrading PBAT, with the primary enzyme hypothesized to belong to the lipase group.

Efficient enzyme immobilization is crucial for addressing the resource utilization challenges associated with lignocellulose. However, the widespread application of immobilized enzyme systems faces significant obstacles, including low enzyme activity and the limited pore structure of existing carriers. To overcome these challenges, a novel multi-enzyme biocatalytic system (multi-enzymes@COF) was developed for the in situ immobilization of cellulose and β-glucosidase on covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Results showed that multi-enzyme@COF exhibits good crystallinity and a mesoporous structure, leading to an increased enzyme loading rate of 0.6 g/g and enhanced cellulose conversion efficiency of up to 78.7 %. Additionally, multi-enzymes@COF demonstrated remarkable stability a broader pH range (4−7) and temperature range (50–70 ℃), with the actively above 70 %. Moreover, the enzymes maintained approximately 74.7 % of their activity even after seven cycles. This research presents an innovative strategy for the effective utilization of lignocellulose through enzymatic processes, promoting sustainable and efficient resource utilization.

Microalgae can contribute to sustainable agriculture and wastewater treatment. This study investigated Tetradesmus obliquus, grown in piggery wastewater (To-PWW), as a biostimulant/biofertilizer compared to biomass grown in synthetic medium (To-B). Subcritical water extraction was tested for disruption/hydrolysis of wet biomass, at three temperatures (120, 170, and 220 °C) and two biomass loads (1:10 and 1:80 (g dry biomass/mL water)). Extracts were evaluated for germination, and root formation/expansion. Residues were quantified for nutrient composition to assess their biofertilizer potential and tested for their affinity to oil compounds for bioremediation. The best germination was achieved by To-B extracts at 170 °C (1:10: 148 % at 0.2 g/L, 1:80: 145 % at 0.5 g/L). Only To-PWW extracts at 0.2 g/L had a significant germination effect (120 °C: 120–123 % for both loads; 170 °C: 115 % for 1:80). To-PWW extract at 120 °C and 1:10 significantly affected cucumber and mung bean root formation (224 and 268 %, respectively). Most extracts significantly enhanced root expansion, with all To-B extracts at 1:10 showing the best results (139–181 %). The residues contained essential nutrients (NPK), indicating their biofertilizer potential, helping decrease synthetic fertilizers demands. To-B residues had high affinity to toluene and diesel but lower to used cooking and car oils. To-PWW showed very low affinity to all oil compounds. Finally, all residues were only able to form stable emulsions with the used car oil. This study fully exploits the use of microalgal biomass in sustainable agriculture, producing biostimulant extracts, and residues for biofertilizer and bioremediation, from a low-cost wastewater source.

In the context of climate change, biochar application is a promising approach to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture. However, the selection of suitable biochar produced from food waste and optimization of loading rates to improve soil quality remains a significant challenge. This study explores the potential impact of biochar application using an integrated analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographical information system (GIS) approach. The study first aims to develop an AHP model to prioritize the appropriate biochar source and dosage for soil amendment. The different biochar sources considered are: peas pod shell, pistachio shell, and mixed vegetable waste. The AHP design evaluated the weight percentage of different types of biochar amendments ranging from 0 % to 8 % based on soil quality, nutrient analysis and water retention capacity. Furthermore, an integrated spatial analysis case study was conducted for fodder farms across Qatar using GIS mapping with seasonal variation to evaluate the impact of biochar on water management. According to the AHP decision making, 2 % mixed vegetable waste biochar achieved the goal with the highest priority score, with a value of 0.29, followed by 2 % pistachio shell biochar with a score of 0.22. This is attributed to the high water retention rate determined from the experimental study. The 2% biochar amendment retained 20 % more water compared to the 0 % biochar. Results from the GIS mapping identified priority areas for improving water retention and soil quality. The evapotranspiration maps for winter and summer generated using GIS provide valuable insights into the spatial disributio of biochar application across Qatar fodder farms. The outcomes may encourage policymakers and stakeholders to consider valorizing food waste into biochar.

Soil copper (Cu) contamination is a ubiquitous and prevalent environmental problem in many countries (such as developed Cu-related industrial areas), endangering food safety and human health. Emerging as a crucial instrument, stable Cu isotope analysis is employed to differentiate between natural and human-induced sources of Cu and to employed the fate of Cu on the soil systems. This study provides an overview of: (i) the analytical methods for stable Cu isotopes, (ii) the Cu isotope compositions of possible end-members of Earth’s surface systems, including particulate matter and, dry and wet deposition to the soil, and (iii) the fractionation mechanisms of Cu isotopes in different types of pollutants, as a tracer for the origin of Cu in soils. These Cu isotope signatures have significant implications for the assessment and remediation of soil Cu pollution scenarios. However, the utilization of Cu isotope signatures remains limited to tracing the source of Cu-contaminated soils through Cu isotope analysis. As a result, this study also presents a perspective on the application of Cu isotopes to trace Cu sources and their fate in the soil.

In this study, hydrometallurgical and electrochemical methods were combined to achieve an innovative strategy for the effective recovery of the finest silver metal from silicon solar waste. The waste was thoroughly characterized by X-Ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. A chemometric approach based on experimental design was used to find the best conditions for the leaching process based on a combined base-activated persulfate and ammonia system while a novel method known as electrodeposition-redox replacement was used to recover it. A remarkable pure silver recovery of 98.7±1.4 % was achieved. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis confirmed the enrichment of Ag particles on the electrode. Overall, these promising results showed how flexible the electrodeposition-redox replacement approach is in producing a range of valuable functional materials from intricate hydrometallurgical solutions including multiple metal impurities.

Material shortages in composting may pose limits or logistical problems in certain regions, which can be addressed with inert and reusable wastes. Very little research has been conducted on the subject of using alternative synthetic wastes as structuring agents to improve composting process parameters. The present work aimed to evaluate the use of used tennis balls (TB) as an inert bulking agent. Composting was carried out in an industrial composting plant with a ternary mixture of olive mill waste, the solid fraction of dewatered pig slurry, urban pruning residues, with the addition of TB as a synthetic bulking agent. Composting process parameters, monitored throughout the composting cycle, showed that TB significantly affected the thermal composting process parameters, with increases in operating temperatures, exothermic index, and mineralization of organic matter. Also, compost properties were seen to be of equal or superior quality at the end of the composting with addition of TB. These are the first experimental results testing the effect of a spherical synthetic reutilized product such as TB on composting processes, which was additionally carried out at an industrial scale, showing that using discarded materials such as used tennis balls can improve the efficiency and economy of composting.