Seasonal variation and concentration of PAHs in Lake Balaton sediment: A study on molecular weight distribution and sources of pollution.

The temporal and spatial variations of 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined at multiple sites around Lake Balaton from February 2023 to January 2024. The results indicated that the concentrations of PAHs in sediment were high during the winter months, 448.35 to 619.77 ng/g dry weight, and low during the summer months, 257.21 to 465.49 ng/g dry weight. The concentration of high molecular weight PAHs (HMWPAHs), consisting of 5-6 rings, was greater than that of low molecular weight PAHs (LMWPAHs), which had 2-3 rings. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for both dermal and ingestion pathways was high for both adults and children during the four seasons, with the highest records as the following: winter > spring > summer > autumn. The ecological effects of the 16 PAHs were negligible except for acenaphthylene (Acy) and fluorene (Fl), which displayed slightly higher concentrations during the autumn and spring, respectively.

A Sustainable Banana Peel Activated Carbon for Removing Pharmaceutical Pollutants from Different Waters: Production, Characterization, and Application.

Due to the growing concerns about pharmaceutical contamination and its devastating impact on the economy and the health of humans and the environment, developing efficient approaches for removing such contaminants has become essential. Adsorption is a cost-effective technique for removing pollutants. Thus, in this work, banana peels as agro-industrial waste were utilized for synthesizing activated carbon for removing pharmaceuticals, namely amoxicillin and carbamazepine from different water matrices. The chemically activated carbon by phosphoric acid (H3PO4) was carbonized at temperatures 350 °C, 450 °C and 550 °C. The material was characterized by several techniques such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Boehm titration, point of zero charge (pHPZC), BET surface area (SBET), the proximate and ultimate analyses, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The SEM of banana peel activated carbon (BPAC) depicted a semi-regular and heterogeneous morphology, characterized by an abundance of pores with diverse forms and sizes. Boehm titration revealed an increase in the amounts of acidic groups by 0.711 mmol/g due to activation by H3PO4. FTIR recorded different peaks suggesting significant modifications in the spectroscopic characteristics of the BPAC surface due to the successful activation and adsorption of the pollutant molecules. The pHpzc of BPAC was calculated to be 5.005. The SBET surface area dramatically increased to 911.59 m2/g after the activation. The optimum conditions were 25 °C, a materials dosage of 1.2 g/L, a saturation time of 120 min, a pollutants mixture of 25 mg/L, and a pH of 5. Langmuir exhibits a slightly better fit than Freundlich with a low value of the residual sum of squares (SSE) and the data were better fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic. Furthermore, the efficacy of BPAC in eliminating pharmaceuticals from Milli Q water, lake water, and wastewater was successfully investigated over the seven cycles. The results of the present work highlighted a potential usage of agro-industrial waste in eliminating organic micropollutants while exhibiting sustainable management of this waste.

A novel and sustainable composite of L@PSAC for superior removal of pharmaceuticals from different water matrices: Production, characterization, and application.

This study endeavors to develop cost-effective environmentally friendly technology for removing harmful residual pharmaceuticals from water and wastewater by utilizing the effective adsorption of pistachio shell (PS) biochar and the degradation potency of laccase immobilized on the biochar (L@PSAC). The carbonatization and activation of the shells were optimized regarding temperature, time, and NH4NO3/PS ratio. This step yielded an optimum PS biochar (PSAC) with the highest porosity and surface area treated at 700 °C for 3 h using an NH4NO3/PS ratio of 3% wt. The immobilization of laccase onto PSAC (L@PSAC) was at its best level at pH 5, 60 U/g, and 30 °C. The optimum L@PSAC maintained a high level of enzyme activity over two months. Almost a complete removal (>99%) of diclofenac, carbamazepine, and ciprofloxacin in Milli-Q (MQ) water and wastewater was achieved. Adsorption was responsible for >80% of the removal and the rest was facilitated by laccase degradation. L@PSAC maintained effective removal of pharmaceuticals of ≥60% for up to six treatment cycles underscoring the promising application of this material for wastewater treatment. These results indicate that activated carbon derived from the pistachio shell could potentially be utilized as a carrier and adsorbent to efficiently remove pharmaceutical compounds. This enzymatic physical elimination approach has the potential to be used on a large-scale.

A sustainable nano-hybrid system of laccase@M-MWCNTs for multifunctional PAHs and PhACs removal from water, wastewater, and lake water.

This study examined the use of modified multiwall carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNTs) with immobilized laccase (L@M-MWCNTs) for removing ciprofloxacin (Cip), carbamazepine (Cbz), diclofenac (Dcf), benzo[a]pyrene (Bap), and anthracene (Ant) from different water samples. The synthesized materials were characterized using an array of advanced analytical techniques. The physical immobilization of laccase onto M-MWCNTs was confirmed through Scanning electron microscope (SEM)-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis and Brunner-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The specific surface area of M-MWCNTs decreased by 65% upon laccase immobilization. There was also an increase in nitrogen content seen by EDS analysis asserting successful immobilization. The results of Boehm titration and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) exhibited an increase in acidic functional groups after laccase immobilization. L@M-MWCNTs storage for two months maintained 77.8%, 61.6%, and 57.6% of its initial activity for 4 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C, respectively. In contrast, the free laccase exhibited 55.3%, 37.5%, and 23.5% of its initial activity at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 35 °C, respectively. MWCNTs improved storability and widened the working temperature range of laccase. The optimum removal conditions of studied pollutants were pH 5, 25 °C, and 1.6 g/L of M-MWCNTs. These parameters led to >90% removal of the targeted pollutants for four treatment cycles of both synthetic water and spiked lake water. L@M-MWCNTs demonstrated consistent removal of >90% for up to five cycles even with spiked wastewater. The adsorption was endothermic and followed Langmuir isotherm. Oxidation, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, and ring cleavage seem to be the dominant degradation mechanisms.

A sustainable and highly efficient fossil-free carbon from olive stones for emerging contaminants removal from different water matrices.

The olive stone is a large waste product of the olive oil extraction industry. The present study investigates developing activated carbon from olive stone waste (OSAC) to remove pharmaceuticals from water. Different temperatures and olive stone: KOH ratios were studied. The OSAC produced at 750 °C and 1:3 ratio was found to have the highest porosity and surface area and was tested in the adsorption process. Diclofenac and ciprofloxacin were selected as model contaminants. The adsorption process was optimized with regards to OSAC dosage, pH, temperature, and initial concentration of adsorbate. The OSAC was found to be effective for a wide pH range (2-11) with an optimum dosage of 1 g/L at 25 °C. The pharmaceuticals were almost completely removed in 75 min. The adsorption was endothermic and followed first-order kinetics with physical mechanisms such as electrostatic possibly being the main driver. The optimum conditions were applied to test the removal of diclofenac and ciprofloxacin in synthetic water, lake water (Lake Balaton, Hungary) and secondary wastewater for seven cycles. There was little difference between the removal of the tested water matrices highlighting the potency of OSAC as an adsorbent for pharmaceutical removal in industrial applications. The removal dropped from >99% for the first cycle to 20-30% for the seventh cycle.

Efficient removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water and wastewater using immobilized laccase on activated carbon derived from pomegranate peels.

In this study, pomegranate peels (PPs) as an abundant fruit processing waste was used to produce cost-effective, eco-friendly, and high-quality activated carbon. The produced carbon (fossil free activated carbon) was used for immobilizing laccase to remove a range of emerging pollutants namely diclofenac, amoxicillin, carbamazepine, and ciprofloxacin from water and wastewater. The loaded activated carbon by laccase (LMPPs) and the unloaded one (MPPs) were characterized using advanced surface chemistry analysis techniques. MPPs was found to have a porous structure with a large surface area and an abundance of acidic functional groups. Laccase immobilization reduced surface area but added active degradation sites. The optimal immobilization parameters were determined as pH 4, 35 °C, and a laccase concentration of 2.5 mg/mL resulting in a 69.8% immobilization yield. The adsorption of the emerging pollutant onto MPPs is best characterized as a spontaneous endothermic process that adheres to the Langmuir isotherm and first-order kinetics. Using synergistic adsorption and enzymatic degradation, the target pollutants (50 mg/L) were eliminated in 2 h. In both water types, LMPPs outperformed MPPs. This study shows that pomegranate peels can effectively be harnessed as an enzyme carrier and adsorbent for the removal of emerging pollutants even from a complex sample matrix. The removal of contaminants from wastewater lasted five cycles, whereas it continued up to six cycles for water.

Ecological and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Tigris river near the oil refineries in Iraq.

Recent Iraqi battles against ISIS in 2014 and 2015 resulted in the destruction or severe damage to several refineries' infrastructure. This, along with other factors, has led to the release and accumulation of a wide range of hazardous chemicals into the environment, for instance, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Thus, for the first time, a comprehensive 16 PAHs measurements campaign over the course of six months near the oil refineries along the Tigris River and its estuaries was investigated. The 16 PAHs concentrations in surface water and the sediments for the following oil refineries: Baiji, Kirkuk, Al-Siniyah, Qayyarah, Al-Kasak, Daura, South Refineries Company, and Maysan were examined. The overall findings indicated that the 16 PAHs concentrations ranged from 567.8 to 3750.7 ng/L for water and 5619.2-12795.0 ng/g for sediment. Water samples in South Refineries Company recorded the highest PAH concentrations while Baiji oil refinery registered the highest PAH concentrations in the sediment samples. The percentages of high molecular weight PAH (5-6 rings) in water and sediment samples were the highest, ranging from 49.41% to 81.67% and from 39.06% to 89.39% of total PAH for water and sediment, respectively. The majority of 16 PAHs measured in water and sediment samples of the Tigris River were derived from pyrogenic sources. Based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), most sites showed a possible effect range with occasional biological effects of most of the PAH concentrations in all sediments' samples. The calculated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) value was high risk with adverse health effects, including cancer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface water and sediment along Euphrates River system: Occurrence, sources, ecological and health risk assessment.

This study presented for the first time a comprehensive measurement campaign of 16 PAHs along the Euphrates River for five months, in both water and sediment samples. Our study revealed that the PAHs contamination increased along the flow direction due to the increasing non-point pollution and the return flows of agriculture. The 5-6 rings PAHs were dominant in water and sediment samples with an average of 42 % and 50 %, respectively. The diagnostic ratios of PAHs suggest that the pollution of these compounds originated mainly from petroleum product combustions. The carcinogenic PAHs formed 46 % and 55 % of the total measured compounds in water and sediment samples, respectively, which highlights potential ecological and human health risks. Based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), most sites exhibit an effect range between low and medium. The calculated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for adult and children were in the 10-2-10-3 range, which is 3-6-fold higher than what was reported in the literature. These observations call for urgent attention from environmental authorities of countries sharing this key water source in Western Asia.

Ketoprofen and aspirin removal by laccase immobilized on date stones.

In recent years, enzymatic remediation/biocatalysis has gained prominence for the bioremediation of recalcitrant chemicals. Laccase is one of the commonly investigated enzymes for bioremediation applications. There is a growing interest in immobilizing this enzyme onto adsorbents for achieving high pollutant removal through simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation. Due to the influence of the biomolecule-support interface on laccase activity and stability, it is crucial to functionalize the solid carrier prior to immobilization. Date stone (PDS), as an eco-friendly, low-cost, and effective natural adsorbent, was utilized as a carrier for laccase (fungus Trametes versicolor). After activating PDS through chemical treatments, the surface area increased by thirty-six-fold, and carbonyl groups became more prominent. Batch experiments were carried out for ketoprofen and aspirin biodegradation in aqueous solutions. After six cycles, the laccase maintained 54% of its original activity confirmed by oxidation tests of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS). In addition, the storage, pH, and thermal stability of immobilized laccase on functionalized date stone (LFPDS) were found to be superior to that of free laccase, demonstrating its potential for ongoing applications. In the aqueous batch mode, this immobilized laccase system was used to degrade 25 mg L-1 of ketoprofen and aspirin, resulting in almost complete removal within 4 h of treatment. This study reveals that agricultural wastes such as date stone can successfully be valorized through simple activation techniques, and the final product can be used as an adsorbent and substrate for immobilization enzyme. The high efficiency of the LFPDS in removing ketoprofen and aspirin highlights the potential of this technology for removing pharmaceuticals and merits its continued development.

Development of Eco-Friendly Concrete Mix Using Recycled Aggregates: Structural Performance and Pore Feature Study Using Image Analysis.

The shortage of natural aggregates has compelled the developers to devote their efforts to finding alternative aggregates. On the other hand, demolition waste from old constructions creates huge land acquisition problems and environmental pollution. Both these problems can be solved by recycling waste materials. The current study aims to use recycled brick aggregates (RBA) to develop eco-friendly pervious concrete (PC) and investigate the new concrete's structural performance and pore structure distributions. Through laboratory testing and image processing techniques, the effects of replacement ratio (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) and particle size (4.75 mm, 9.5 mm, and 12.5 mm) on both structural performance and pore feature were analyzed. The obtained results showed that the smallest aggregate size (size = 4.75 mm) provides the best strength compared to the large sizes. The image analysis method has shown the average pore sizes of PC mixes made with smaller aggregates (size = 4.75 mm) as 1.8-2 mm, whereas the mixes prepared with an aggregate size of 9.5 mm and 12.5 mm can provide pore sizes of 2.9-3.1 mm and 3.7-4.2 mm, respectively. In summary, the results confirmed that 40-60% of the natural aggregates could be replaced with RBA without influencing both strength and pore features.

Positive environmental effects of the coronavirus 2020 episode: a review.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has made a global catastrophic situation that caused 1,039,406 deaths out of 35,347,404 infections, and it will also cause significant socio-economic losses with poverty increasing from 17.1 to 25.9%. Although the spreading rate of COVID-19 is very high on October 6, 2020, the death rate is still less than 2.94%. Nonetheless, this review article shows that the lockdown has induced numerous positive impacts on the environment and on energy consumption. For instance, the lockdown has decreased the electricity demand by 30% in Italy, India, Germany, and the USA, and by 12-20% in France, Germany, Spain, India, and the UK. Additionally, the expenditure of the fuel supply has been decreased by 4% in 2020 as compared to the previous years (2012-2019). In particular, The global demand for coal fuel has been reduced by 8% in March and April 2020 as compared to the same time in 2019. In terms of harmful emissions, the lockdowns reduced the emissions of nitrous oxides by 20-30% in China, Italy, France, Spain, and by 77.3% in São Paulo, Brazil. Similarly, the particulate matter level has been reduced from 5-15% in Western Europe, to 200% in New Delhi, India, which in turn has enhanced the air quality in a never-seen manner in recent times. In some places, such as New York, USA, CO2 emission was also reduced by 5-10%. The water quality, in several polluted areas, has also been remarkably enhanced, for example, the dissolved oxygen content in the Ganga River, India, has increased by about 80%. Traffic congestion has also been reduced worldwide, and in some areas, it has been reduced by 50%, such as New York and Los Angeles, USA. Overall, while the COVID-19 pandemic has shrinked the global economy by 13-32%, the pandemic has also clearly benefited to other sectors, which must be considered as the spotlight for the permanent revival of the global ecosystem.

Phosphate removal from water using bottom ash: adsorption performance, coexisting anions and modelling studies.

Phosphate in freshwater possesses significant effects on both quality of water and human health. Hence, many treatment methods have been used to remove phosphate from water/wastewaters, such as biological and electrochemical methods. Recent researches demonstrated that adsorption approaches are convenient solutions for water/wastewater remediation from phosphate. Thus, the present study employs industrial by-products (bottom ash (BA)), as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative, to remediate water from phosphate in the presence of competitor ions (humic acid). This study was initiated by characterising the chemical and physical properties of the BA, sample, then Central Composite Design (CCD) was utilised to design the required batch experiments and to model the influence of solution temperature (ST), humic acid concentration (HAC), pH of the solution (PoS) and doses of adsorbent (DoA) on the performance of the BA. The Langmuir model was utilised to assess the adsorption process. The outcomes of this study evidenced that the BA removed 83.8% of 5.0 mg/l of phosphates at ST, HAC, PoS and DoA 35 °C, 20 mg/L, 5 and 55 g/L, respectively. The isotherm study indicated a good affinity between BA and phosphate. Additionally, the developed model, using the CCD, reliably simulated the removal of phosphates using BA (R2 = 0.99).

Corrigendum to "Dietary Lipids in Health and Disease".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/5729498.].

Escherichia coli inactivation using a hybrid ultrasonic-electrocoagulation reactor.

In the current study, a new hybrid ultrasonic-electrocoagulation reactor (U-E reactor) has been used to inactivate Escherichia coli in water. The new hybrid reactor consists of an ultrasonic bath fitted with four perforated aluminium electrodes. These perforated electrodes are designed to act as baffle-plates to enhance the water-mixing process. The electrodes eliminate the need for external mixing devices, which in turn, enhances the cost-effectiveness of the unit. Initially, the ability of the electrocoagulation to inactivate E. coli was optimised for different operating parameters such as electrolysing time (Te), electrodes spacing (ES) and current density (CD). The ultrasonic field was then applied over different time periods (Tu), during the course of the electrolysing process. Statistical analyses have been conducted to assess the relative effect of each operating parameter on the inactivation of E. coli. An economic study has also been conducted to assess the operating costs of the U-E reactor. The results revealed that the new U-E reactor inactivated 100% of the E. coli within 11 min of electrolysis at ES of 5 mm, CD of 1.5 mA/cm2, and an operation cost of 0.212 US $/m3. It was been established that the relative effect of operating parameters on E.coli inactivation followed the order: Te>Tu>CD>ES.

Removal of phosphate from River water using a new baffle plates electrochemical reactor.

During the last 50 years, the human activities have significantly altered the natural cycle of phosphate in this planet, causing phosphate to accumulate in the freshwater ecosystems of some countries to at least 75% greater than preindustrial levels, which indicates an urgent need to develop efficient phosphate treatment methods. Therefore, the current study investigates the removal of phosphate from river water using a new electrochemical cell (PBPR). This new cell utilises perforated baffle plates as a water mixer rather than magnetic stirrers that require power to work. This study investigates the influence of key operational parameters such as initial pH (ipH), current density (Ј), inter-electrode distance (ID), detention time (t) and initial phosphate concentration (IC) on the removal efficiency, and influence of the electrocoagulation process on the morphology of the surface of electrodes. Overall, the results showed that the new reactor was efficient enough to reduce the concentration of phosphate to the permissible limits. Additionally, SEM images showed that the Al anode became rough and nonuniform due to the production of aluminium hydroxides. The main advantages of the electrocoagulation technique are: •The EC method does not produce secondary pollutants as it does not required chemical additives, while other traditional treatment methods required either chemical or biological additives [[1], [2], [3], [4]].•It has a large treatment capacity and a relatively short treatment time in comparison with other treatment methods, such as the biological methods [1,[5], [6], [7]].•The EC method produces less sludge than traditional treatment traditional chemical and biological treatment methods [8,9]. EC technology, like any other treatment method, has some drawbacks that could limit its performance. For instance, it still has a clear deficiency in the variety of reactor design, and the electrodes should be periodically replaced as they dissolve into the solution due to the oxidation process [2,10].

Energy efficient electrocoagulation using a new flow column reactor to remove nitrate from drinking water - Experimental, statistical, and economic approach.

In this investigation, a new bench-scale electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) has been applied for drinking water denitrification. FCER utilises the concepts of flow column to mix and aerate the water. The water being treated flows through the perforated aluminium disks electrodes, thereby efficiently mixing and aerating the water. As a result, FCER reduces the need for external stirring and aerating devices, which until now have been widely used in the electrocoagulation reactors. Therefore, FCER could be a promising cost-effective alternative to the traditional lab-scale EC reactors. A comprehensive study has been commenced to investigate the performance of the new reactor. This includes the application of FCER to remove nitrate from drinking water. Estimation of the produced amount of H2 gas and the yieldable energy from it, an estimation of its preliminary operating cost, and a SEM (scanning electron microscope) investigation of the influence of the EC process on the morphology of the surface of electrodes. Additionally, an empirical model was developed to reproduce the nitrate removal performance of the FCER. The results obtained indicated that the FCER reduced the nitrate concentration from 100 to 15 mg/L (World Health Organization limitations for infants) after 55 min of electrolysing at initial pH of 7, GBE of 5 mm, CD of 2 mA/cm2, and at operating cost of 0.455 US $/m3. Additionally, it was found that FCER emits H2 gas enough to generate a power of 1.36 kW/m3. Statistically, the relationship between the operating parameters and nitrate removal could be modelled with R2 of 0.848. The obtained SEM images showed a large number dents on anode's surface due to the production of aluminium hydroxides.

Defluoridation of drinking water using a new flow column-electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) - Experimental, statistical, and economic approach.

A new batch, flow column electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) that utilises a perforated plate flow column as a mixer has been used to remove fluoride from drinking water. A comprehensive study has been carried out to assess its performance. The efficiency of fluoride removal (R%) as a function of key operational parameters such as initial pH, detention time (t), current density (CD), inter-electrode distance (ID) and initial concentration (C0) has been examined and an empirical model has been developed. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of the influence of the EC process on morphology of the surface of the aluminium electrodes, showed the erosion caused by aluminium loss. A preliminary estimation of the reactor's operating cost is suggested, allowing for the energy from recycling of hydrogen gas hydrogen gas produced amount. The results obtained showed that 98% of fluoride was removed within 25 min of electrolysis at pH of 6, ID of 5 mm, and CD of 2 mA/cm2. The general relationship between fluoride removal and operating parameters could be described by a linear model with R2 of 0.823. The contribution of the operating parameters to the suggested model followed the order: t > CD > C0 > ID > pH. The SEM images obtained showed that, after the EC process, the surface of the anodes, became non-uniform with a large number of irregularities due to the generation of aluminium hydroxides. It is suggested that these do not materially affect the performance. A provisional estimate of the operating cost was 0.379 US $/m3. Additionally, it has been found that 0.6 kW/m3 is potentially recoverable from the H2 gas.

Iron removal, energy consumption and operating cost of electrocoagulation of drinking water using a new flow column reactor.

The goal of this project was to remove iron from drinking water using a new electrocoagulation (EC) cell. In this research, a flow column has been employed in the designing of a new electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) to achieve the planned target. Where, the water being treated flows through the perforated disc electrodes, thereby effectively mixing and aerating the water being treated. As a result, the stirring and aerating devices that until now have been widely used in the electrocoagulation reactors are unnecessary. The obtained results indicated that FCER reduced the iron concentration from 20 to 0.3 mg/L within 20 min of electrolysis at initial pH of 6, inter-electrode distance (ID) of 5 mm, current density (CD) of 1.5 mA/cm2, and minimum operating cost of 0.22 US $/m3. Additionally, it was found that FCER produces H2 gas enough to generate energy of 10.14 kW/m3. Statistically, it was found that the relationship between iron removal and operating parameters could be modelled with R2 of 0.86, and the influence of operating parameters on iron removal followed the order: C0>t>CD>pH. Finally, the SEM (scanning electron microscopy) images showed a large number of irregularities on the surface of anode due to the generation of aluminium hydroxides.