Water, Air, & Soil Pollution最新文献

Amoxicillin is considered the most widely used antibiotic and has been cataloged among the drugs under surveillance. In the current work, we aimed to review the detection methods, presence, and concentrations of amoxicillin in wastewater from different countries. Additionally, we aimed to examine the methods currently employed for removing amoxicillin and recognized the advantages of advanced technologies that can increase removal efficiency. Finally, the manner in which amoxicillin enters the environment and associated effects are discussed. The results revealed that amoxicillin concentrations can be up to 1,172,000 ng/L in hospital wastewater, whereas its concentration in urban wastewater ranges from 66–5,230 ng/L, with the maximum acceptable limits being 78 ng/L for this antibiotic under European regulations. Advanced oxidation processes are highly efficient for amoxicillin removal, with removal percentages between 90 and 100%, but the efficiency of treatment processes may decrease when real wastewater rather than simulated wastewater is used due to the presence of organic matter in real wastewater. In addition, conventional processes that play crucial roles in wastewater treatment plants are unlikely to thoroughly remove amoxicillin from wastewater. Every method has benefits and drawbacks in terms of time, toxic byproduct formation, cost and maintenance requirements.

A new eco-friendly bio based adsorbent carboxymethyl starch grafted methacrylic acid (NCS-g-MA.Acid) was synthesized for the removal of methyl violet (MV) a toxic pollutant to marine life. For this purpose, the grafting of methacrylic acid was carried out to the carboxymethyl starch chain via free radical polymerization reaction. The structure of the NCS-g-MA.Acid was investigated by FT-IR and ¹HNMR. The nature, morphology and thermal properties were analyzed by using analytical techniques like XRD, SEM TGA and DTG. Different kinetic and adsorption models were applied to investigate the nature of the adsorption on MV dye onto NCS-g-MA.Acid. The maximum removal percentage (%R) of 95.65% was achieved under the following conditions: 20 mg of NCS-g-MA.Acid in a 20 ppm dye solution at pH 9, a temperature of 25 °C, a stirring rate of 600 rpm, and a contact time of 30 min. Furthermore, the adsorption performance of un-grafted starch NCS and modified NCS-g-MA.Acid with MV dye have been checked through DFT calculations. The trends in interaction energies, noncovalent interaction and Hirsfeld surface analysis shows good correlation with experimental observation. The antibacterial activity of NCS-g-MA.Acid was also investigated by using different bacterial strains. Strains of E. coli, Bacillus subtills, Xanthomonas and Klebsiella pneumonia were all susceptible to the NCS-g-MA.Acid's effective antibacterial action. These details lead to the conclusion that NCS-g-MA.Acid would improve the fields of biomedicine and wastewater treatment.

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The heavy metals were measured in edible parts and shells of five edible bivalve species; Venerupis corrugata, Venerupis sp., Venerupis aurea, Ruditapes decussatus, and Paratapes undulatus collected from Timsah Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt. Ruditapes decussatus showed the highest average of flesh weight and exhibited the highest accumulation averages of Mn, Ni, and Pb. Paratapes undulatus recorded the highest averages of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Co in their flesh. According to the WHO guidelines, Fe levels in the edible parts of V. corrugata, R. decussatus and P. undulatus exceed the permissible limit of 100 µg/g. In contrast, Cu and Zn metals concentrations are below the permissible limits of 30 and 1000 µg/g, respectively. The levels of Pb and Ni surpass the permissible limits (0.2 and 0.35 µg/g) in all the studied species. Meanwhile, Cd levels are below the permissible limit (0.07 µg/g) in all species, except for P. undulatus. Furthermore, P. undulatus had the highest shell weight average and the highest averages of the mineralized; Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd. Zn recorded the highest mineralization ratio (metal _shell/metal _flesh) in the shells of R. decussatus, P. undulates, and V. corrugata (11.38, 6.26, and 5.18, respectively). However, Cd and Fe showed high mineralization ratios in the shell lattices of P. undulatus (7.17, 6.22), suggesting that some bivalve species have demonstrated differential abilities to mineralize certain metals within their shells.

Wastewater can be used in hydroponic systems to grow crop plants, offering a sustainable solution to water scarcity and nutrient recycling. However, contaminants like Cu and Zn can affect crop yield. This study aimed to assess the effects of Cu- and Zn-induced toxicity on growth, physiology, photosynthesis, biochemical characteristics, element concentrations, and leaf distribution patterns in buckwheat. The experiment consisted of nine treatments (0, Cu5, Cu10, Zn50, Zn100, Cu5Zn50, Cu5Zn100, Cu10Zn50 and Cu10Zn100 mg L⁻¹) with four replications in a completely randomized design. The obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's HSD tests. A two-way clustering based on Euclidian distance was performed to understand the relationships between the measured parameters better. The results showed that Cu and Zn at higher and combined levels notably decreased fresh and dry weight, nitrogen balance index, chlorophylls, photosystem II (PSII) efficiency, and PSII quantum yield compared to the control. Conversely, the anthocyanin and flavonoids contents were increased compared to the control. Shoot Cu and Zn concentrations and uptake were dose-dependent; however, Cu and Zn interactions at higher levels were antagonistic. Micro-XRF element distribution analysis of leaves showed that Cu and/or Zn treatment affected element partitioning between mesophyll and vascular tissue. Mesophyll to vein metal concentration ratios (MeVeR) showed that at higher Cu levels (Cu10), more Cu was transported into the mesophyll, making Cu more toxic due to interference with photosynthesis, while at high Zn levels (Zn100), Zn was more efficiently sequestered in veins.

Drought and soil degradation pose significant challenges to global food security and agricultural growth. Superabsorbent hydrogels, with their hydrophilic three-dimensional network structures, offer a promising solution to improve soil structure and water retention, thus mitigating the detrimental effects of drought on crop yields. Recently, superabsorbent hydrogels for agriculture (SHFA) has garnered considerable attention in the academic community. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 949 SHFA-related publications from 1989 to 2023, utilizing tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica. Network performance analyses, encompassing countries, institutions, and authors, reveal that PR China, India, and the USA are the leading contributors, with frequent collaborative exchanges. Temporal trends in SHFA research were mapped, and 15 keyword clusters were identified through co-citation network analysis, yielding notable modularity and silhouette scores (Q = 0.8173; S = 0.8957). Early studies predominantly focused on chemical modifications to optimize material properties, with a significant increase in publications from 2011 onward. Recent years have witnessed a shift toward agricultural applications, as evidenced by the emergence of keywords like “nitrogen fertilizer,” “fabrication,” “carboxymethyl cellulose,” and “water use efficiency.” The growing focus on water environmental protection has spurred the development of bio-based hydrogels, incorporating materials such as “chitosan” and “cellulose.” Moving forward, key challenges in SHFA research include lowering production costs and improving environmental sustainability. These insights offer crucial guidance for funding bodies and research teams, facilitating efficient resource use and achieving sustainable development.

In India, the rice–wheat cropping system dominates, covering 10.5 million hectares of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which accounts for 53% of the entire area of the IGP and contributes to approximately 50% of the overall food grain production. The large area under rice–wheat cultivation and the increased use of commercial fertilizers in Indian agriculture result in high emissions of the greenhouse gas (GHG) nitrous oxide (N₂O). The extensive reliance on inorganic fertilizers, ranging from 80 to 92% of usual consumption, is a major concern for the scientific community due to their production of threatening and long-lasting GHGs, particularly N₂O. This review is dedicated to a comprehensive exploration of N₂O emissions within distinct locations across India, focusing solely on both typical and controlled conditions. The primary objective is to unravel the intricate interplay of N₂O emissions within these contexts. Through its holistic approach, this review contributes to a more informed and effective strategy for mitigating N₂O emissions while optimizing crop productivity within the dynamic agricultural landscape of India. Furthermore, recent technological advancements, various N₂O mitigation policies, potential trade-offs, knowledge and capacity building in promoting N₂O mitigation strategies are also discussed in the review paper. The outputs from this study can be used to refine climate-smart agricultural practices at regional and global scales.

Carbon microspheres (CMSs) were synthesized from soluble starch via a straightforward and efficient hydrothermal carbonization process. Soluble starch was chosen as a cost-effective, non-toxic, and sustainable precursor, offering a green approach to the production of carbon microspheres. Two types of amino-functionalized carbon microspheres (NH₂-CMSs) were subsequently prepared via surface amino-modification using aqueous ammonia or ammonium persulfate. Quantitative analysis revealed that NH₂-CMSs modified with ammonia exhibited a surface amino content 2.5 times higher than those modified with ammonium persulfate. Structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the successful synthesis of uniformly sized spherical NH₂-CMSs, with the amino-functionalization maintaining the integrity of the carbon framework. Adsorption studies demonstrated that NH₂-CMSs achieved a significantly enhanced theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 130.96 mg·g⁻¹ for Pb²⁺, surpassing that of unmodified CMSs (80.87 mg·g⁻¹) by 1.62 times. The primary adsorption mechanism involved the formation of covalent bonds between amino groups and Pb²⁺, resulting in stable metal complexes. The adsorption kinetics indicated a single-molecule adsorption behavior dominated by chemical adsorption as the rate-determining step. These findings underscore the potential of NH₂-CMSs as highly effective adsorbents for the removal of Pb²⁺ from aqueous solutions.

This study aimed to develop agro-based engineered biochars for adsorbing low concentration nitrate with economic and effective characteristics. Two kinds of wheat or corn-straw based biochars were prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures using the acid/iron modification method. The performance of adsorption and desorption, mechanism (adsorption model, biochar morphology, zeta potential), influencing factors (pH, co-existence of anions and organic matter) and stability were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the modification by HCl impregnation for corn straw-based biochars (CH500) or HCl-FeCl₃ for wheat-straw based biochar pyrolyzed at 500 °C (WFe500) could reach a NO₃⁻ removal efficiency of 85–91% within 24 - 48 h at a low concentration of 20 mg N L⁻¹. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q_m) from Langmuir model for the CH500 (1958 mg kg⁻¹) was 20% greater than that of WFe500 (1651 mg kg ⁻¹). After the kinetic adsorption reached the equilibrium, there was no clear desorption by DI water. The pH had no significant effect on the adsorption, and the adsorption efficiency of NO₃⁻ could be kept at ~ 60% under the co-existence of anions as well. After acid or iron modification, polarity index of H/C further decreased, and the index of (O + N)/C or O/C further increased. The zeta potential (ζ), the BET surface area and pore volume of CH500 and WFe500 also increased. It was suggested that the modification increased the positive charge loads of H⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the biochar surface, which enhanced polarity and electrostatic attractions and led to increased effective contacts between the biochar and low concentration NO₃⁻. The NO₃⁻ accumulated at the charge sites on the surface and inside the biochar via electrostatic attraction could replace other anion previously fixed on the biochar (such as Cl⁻ loaded by modification) via ion exchange. The increased volumes/areas of internal pores by the modification were crucial for adsorption and retention of NO₃⁻ ions after the effective contact. The modification method, pollutant characteristics and biochar feed stock characteristics should be considered together as primary influencing factors for preparing high performance biochar.

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The environmental effects of industrial wastewater on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are a significant global issue. With the growing demand for processed seafood, the seafood processing industry is under increasing pressure to produce more, resulting in greater wastewater discharge into adjacent waterways. This study finds that Salmonella enterica BSE-13, isolated from seafood processing effluent, is highly effective in removing BOD, COD, nitrites, nitrates, and nitrogen. When starch is added, among the 7 isolates BSE-13 achieves higher removal efficiencies of 72.5% for BOD, 65.8% for COD, 41.6% for nitrites, 69.6% for nitrogen, and 54.3% for nitrates. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) optimized media conditions to maximize the removal efficiency of the potent BSE-13 strain. Under optimized conditions, removal rates reach 83.94% for BOD and 73.15% for nitrogen. In a glass column setup, BSE-13 removes 62.25% of BOD by the 12th day. A pot trial shows that the treated effluent improves plant growth compared to untreated effluent. Toxicity tests reveal significant chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities in onion root tips exposed to untreated effluent, while brine shrimp studies show that treated effluent and controls have fewer aggregates and less morphological change, with untreated effluent causing severe toxicity. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that using eco-friendly microbes for treating effluent offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for cleaning wastewater. Microbially treated effluent demonstrates significant potential for reducing various pollutants and enhancing plant growth.

Olivine is a natural material with abundant reserves and is considered to have the potential to treat heavy metal ions in water. In this study, a facile precipitation-calcination method was employed to deposit micrometer-sized magnesium oxide (MgO) rods onto the surface of olivine powder (PO). This process yielded a cost-effective MgO-modified olivine composite (MgO@PO400), which was subsequently evaluated for its ability to adsorb Cu²⁺ from aqueous solutions. The BET-specific surface area of MgO@PO400 was three times higher than that of PO, and the MgO micro-rods were distributed on the material's surface (BET:Brunauer-Emmet-Teller). Adsorption experiments showed that the data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, which indicated that Cu²⁺ was removed by monolayer chemisorption. In addition, the process was verified to be spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable. The maximum adsorption capacity of MgO@PO400 for Cu²⁺ was 225.82 mg/g, which was able to exhibit high removal efficiency (84.95–98.05%) for Cu²⁺ in the pH range of 3 to 5.5, and good immunity to the presence of different coexisting ions in the water, demonstrating that potential for treating complex Cu2⁺-containing wastewater. Various characterization methods verified the adsorption mechanism of MgO@PO400 on Cu²⁺, and the results showed that the removal of Cu²⁺ mainly involved ion exchange, surface precipitation and electrostatic attraction. Therefore, MgO@PO400 can be considered a potential adsorbent for removing Cu²⁺ from aqueous solutions.

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