Plastic invasion tolling: First evaluation of microplastics in water and two crab species from the nature reserve lagoonary complex of Kune-Vain, Albania.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is an emerging global challenge and actually has become a reality in aquatic ecosystems in Albania. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report of 2019, Albania, is one of the most problematic countries, with the highest percentage of untreated plastic waste, 73 %, and one of the top four countries with the highest norm of untreated plastic waste in the Mediterranean. This study evaluates and characterizes for the first time the MPs in water, sediment, and gastrointestinal tracts of two crab species, C. aestuarii and C. sapidus, common inhabitants of the lagoonary complex of Kune-Vain Nature Reserve, known for their important role in the lagoon ecosystem. The results showed that all sampled crabs had MPs in their gut in an average of 11.0 ± 1.85 items g-1, while the total MPs content in water ranges from 370 to 750 MPs per L-1. No significant difference in the content of MPs between the two crab species was found and a positive Pearson correlation, between microplastic abundance in the water and in the crabs regardless of species, was confirmed. The composition of microplastics showed consistency in crabs, sediment, and water, with fibers and pellets as the dominant types followed by microbeads, and fragments. Characterized MPs varied in size from <0.1 mm to 0.1-0.5 mm, showing variable colors of black, blue, and red domination. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis of the chemical composition of microplastics distinguished presence of the high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which showed consistency in water, sediment, and crab samples. In conclusion, high levels of MPs pollution observed in the Kune-Vain complex represent a serious threat to the lagoon ecosystem and to the local inhabitants. Furthermore, studies on MPs' impact on biota and local population health are urgently required.

The Removal of Atrazine and Benalaxyl by the Fly Ash Released from Kosovo A Power Plant.

The development of low-cost adsorbent coal FA (Kosovo A) for pesticide removal is an important area of scientific research. With this study, we show the potential of adsorption of coal FA (Kosovo A) for the removal of benalaxyl and atrazine from water. We have found that the amount of adsorbed benalaxyl and atrazine increases with an increasing amount of coal FA (Kosovo A) in solution. The maximum capacity coal FA (Kosovo A) to adsorb benalaxyl and atrazine was found to be 0.46 and 0.45 mg/g according to the Freundlich equation and 3.48 and 3.33 mg/g according to the Langmuir equation. The Freundlich adsorption equation better explains the adsorption results of pesticides (benalaxyl and atrazine) in coal FA (Kosovo A), as the values of the recovery coefficient (R 2) were higher in Freundlich equation than the Langmuir equation. The adsorption isotherms were of type L and show that the adsorption efficiency of the coal FA (Kosovo A) depends on the initial concentration of benalaxyl and atrazine in solution and the maximum removal of benalaxyl and atrazine was achieved at concentrations less than 10 µg/ml. This study's results are expected to have implications for the use of coal FA (Kosovo A) for the removal of pesticides from water.

Microstructure-mechanical properties of Ag0/Au0 doped K-Mg-Al-Si-O-F glass-ceramics.

In understanding the catalytic efficacy of silver (Ag0) and gold (Au0) nanoparticles (NPs) on glass-ceramic (GC) crystallization, the microstructure-machinability correlation of a SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-B2O3-K2O-MgF2 system is studied. The thermal parameters viz., glass transition temperature (T g) and crystallization temperature (T c) were extensively changed by varying NPs (in situ or ex situ). Tc was found to be increased (T c = 870-875 °C) by 90-110 °C when ex situ NPs were present in the glass system. Under controlled heat-treatment at 950 ± 10 °C, the glasses were converted into glass-ceramics with the predominant presence of crystalline phase (XRD) fluorophlogopite mica, [KMg3(AlSi3O10)F2]. Along with the secondary phase enstatite (MgSiO3), the presence of Ag and Au particles (FCC system) were identified by XRD. A microstructure containing spherical crystallite precipitates (∼50-400 nm) has been observed through FESEM in in situ doped GCs. An ex situ Ag doped GC matrix composed of rock-like and plate-like crystallites mostly of size 1-3 µm ensured its superior machinability. Vicker's and Knoop microhardness of in situ doped GCs were estimated within the range 4.45-4.61 GPa which is reduced to 4.21-4.34 GPa in the ex situ Ag system. Machinability of GCs was found to be in the order, ex situ Ag > ex situ Au ∼ in situ Ag > in situ Au. Thus, the ex situ Ag/Au doped SiO2-MgO-Al2O3-B2O3-K2O-MgF2 GC has potential for use as a machinable glass-ceramic.