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.

Impact of water as raw material on material circularity - A case study from the Hungarian food sector.

Measuring circularity is necessary to prove the feasibility of transforming linear technologies into circular ones. However, most of the circular economic researches consider water only as a medium. Food industry processes are excellent examples of systems that are hard to break free from linearity, albeit not impossible. This paper explores solutions to include water in circularity calculations using a Hungarian poultry processing plant as a case study. Two circular economic indicators, the questionnaire-type Circular Economy Indicator Prototype (CEIP) and the product-centric Material Circularity Indicator (MCI and MCI') and the Water Footprint were examined in detail and modified to fit the needs of assessing circularity with water included as raw material. The calculations were supported by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The impact on circularity and the environment were quantified by considering different reuse scenarios. As the results of CEIP show, including water reuse in the technology or recycling for irrigation could increase the indicator values from low to medium-high level of circularity. However, the level of improvement highly depends on the amount of water used. LCA highlighted the significant environmental effects of packaging (<2% of product mass) and the relative benefits of recycling and reuse. The MCI' values (including water as raw material) increased from 0.171 to 0.848 when water demand was reduced by 50% and 100% reused within the processes. This led to a reduction of 76% in the environmental effect. On the other hand, Water Footprint analysis showed that 99% of the water is incorporated in the product itself; therefore, technological water consumption should be treated separately from broiler breeding. The results show that a fairly linear process can be directed towards circularity. However, environmental benefits are not guaranteed with higher circularity points, and recycling may lead to unexpected results.

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.

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.

Identification of sampling points for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the sewage system.

A suitable tool for monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is to identify potential sampling points in the wastewater collection system that can be used to monitor the distribution of COVID-19 disease affected clusters within a city. The applicability of the developed methodology is presented through the description of the 72,837 population equivalent wastewater collection system of the city of Nagykanizsa, Hungary and the results of the analytical and epidemiological measurements of the wastewater samples. The wastewater sampling was conducted during the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. It was found that the overlap between the road system and the wastewater network is high, it is 82 %. It was showed that the proposed methodological approach, using the tools of network science, determines confidently the zones of the wastewater collection system and provides the ideal monitoring points in order to provide the best sampling resolution in urban areas. The strength of the presented approach is that it estimates the network based on publicly available information. It was concluded that the number of zones or sampling points can be chosen based on relevant epidemiological intervention and mitigation strategies. The algorithm allows for continuous effective monitoring of the population infected by SARS-CoV-2 in small-sized cities.

Red mud with other waste materials as artificial soil substitute and its effect on Sinapis alba.

Despite efforts to utilise bauxite residue, the amount of red mud stored in reservoirs is increasing. This paper aims to evaluate the potential of red mud and other sludge waste types as a soil substitute by monitoring plant development. Pot experiments were carried out testing two types of mixtures: dredging sludge from Lake Balaton mixed with garden soil and the sewage sludge and soil blend. These were then treated with red mud (15 and 30% w/w). The plants were under-, while the roots were more developed in the sewage sludge mix than the dredging sludge blend and the control soil. In the sewage amendment, the phosphorous content increased while the calcium content was lower than in the other soil types and the optimum. The metals uptake of the plants was a factor of the red mud quantity. Lead, nickel, titanium and silicon had elevated concentrations parallel to higher red mud content, but only the nickel exceeded the threshold of the Hungarian legislation. Silicon and titanium were beneficial for plant growth, compensating for the potentially toxic effects of lead and nickel. Results suggest that the red mud in a mixture with either sewage sludge or dredging sludge can act as catalysts for the growth rate of test plants, allowing their utilisation as secondary raw materials.

Developing of Low-Cost Air Pollution Sensor-Measurements with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Poland.

This article presents the capabilities and selected measurement results from the newly developed low-cost air pollution measurement system mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system is designed and manufactured by the authors and is intended to facilitate, accelerate, and ensure the safety of operators when measuring air pollutants. It allows the creation of three-dimensional models and measurement visualizations, thanks to which it is possible to observe the location of leakage of substances and the direction of air pollution spread by various types of substances. Based on these models, it is possible to create area audits and strategies for the elimination of pollution sources. Thanks to the usage of a multi-socket microprocessor system, the combination of nine different air quality sensors can be installed in a very small device. The possibility of simultaneously measuring several different substances has been achieved at a very low cost for building the sensor unit: 70 EUR. The very small size of this device makes it easy and safe to mount it on a small drone (UAV). Because of this device, many harmful chemical compounds such as ammonia, hexane, benzene, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, as well as flammable substances such as hydrogen and methane, can be detected. Additionally, a very important function is the ability to perform measurements of PM2.5 and PM10 suspended particulates. Thanks to the use of UAV, the measurement is carried out remotely by the operator, which allows us to avoid the direct exposure of humans to harmful factors. A big advantage is the quick measurement of large spaces, at different heights above the ground, in different weather conditions. Because of the three-dimensional positioning from GPS receiver, users can plot points and use colors reflecting a concentration of measured features to better visualize the air pollution. A human-friendly data output can be used to determine the mostly hazardous regions of the sampled area.

Simulation of the influence of industrial wastewater on a municipal sewage treatment plant--a case study.

PURPOSE: Industrial wastewater flow caused operational difficulties in the wastewater treatment plant in Debrecen, Hungary. Bioaugmentation was successfully applied to maintain effluent quality in the periods when wastewater of high starch content was accepted, but, at the end of 2008, the nitrification capacity of the plant decreased considerably due to improperly pre-treated pharmaceutical wastewater. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Dynamic simulations were carried out in a prototype programme developed by the Environmental Expert System Research Group at the University of Pannonia, Hungary. Several parameters for heterotrophic biomass were adjusted in function of time, and the specific growth rate of autotrophic biomass was altered in function of time and temperature in order to describe the effects of inoculation and toxic influence. Simulations were carried out with both constant and adjusted parameters. RESULTS: Though results on effluent COD of the different modelling versions were similar, the ammonia concentration fitted the measured data only when modified parameters were used. The study revealed that the autotrophic biomass had slowly adapted to the toxic compound. Different control strategies of aeration and decreased excess sludge removal rate were tested to enhance the nitrification in the critical time intervals. The amount of ammonia and inorganic nitrogen decreased in all cases while the oxygen demand increased to a maximum of 10.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing excess sludge removal rate gave satisfactory results even without changing aeration. Further improvement could be achieved by introducing aeration into the post-denitrification reactor. The combination of the two modifications can compensate for the effect caused by toxicity.