Triggering antibacterial activity of a common plant by biosorption of selected heavy metals.

The presented study proposes an efficient utilization of a common Thymus serpyllum L. (wild thyme) plant as a highly potent biosorbent of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions and the efficient interaction of the copper-laden plant with two opportunistic bacteria. Apart from biochars that are commonly used for adsorption, here we report the direct use of native plant, which is potentially interesting also for soil remediation. The highest adsorption capacity for Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions (qe = 12.66 and 53.13 mg g-1, respectively) was achieved after 10 and 30 min of adsorption, respectively. Moreover, the Cu-laden plant was shown to be an efficient antibacterial agent against the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the results being slightly better in the former case. Such an activity is enabled only via the interaction of the adsorbed ions effectively distributed within the biological matrix of the plant with bacterial cells. Thus, the sustainable resource can be used both for the treatment of wastewater and, after an effective embedment of metal ions, for the fight against microbes.

Bioremoval of tannins and heavy metals using immobilized tannase and biomass of Aspergillus glaucus.

BACKGROUND: The presence of inorganic pollutants and heavy metals in industrial effluents has become a serious threat and environmental issues. Fungi have a remarkable ability to exclude heavy metals from wastewater through biosorption in eco-friendly way. Tannase plays an important role in bioconversion of tannin, a major constituent of tannery effluent, to gallic acid which has great pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to exploit the potential of tannase from Aspergillus glaucus and fungal biomass waste for the bioremediation of heavy metals and tannin. RESULTS: Tannase from A. glaucus was partially purified 4.8-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation (80%). The enzyme was optimally active at pH 5.0 and 40 °C and stable at this temperature for 1 h. Tannase showed high stability at different physiological conditions, displayed about 50% of its activity at 60 °C and pH range 5.0-6.0. Immobilization of tannase was carried out using methods such. as entrapment in Na-alginate and covalent binding to chitosan. The effects of Na-alginate concentrations on the beads formation and enzyme immobilization revealed that maximum immobilization efficiency (75%) was obtained with 3% Na-alginate. A potential reusability of the immobilized enzyme was showed through keeping 70% of its relative activity up to the fourth cycle. The best bioconversion efficiency of tannic acid to gallic acid by immobilized tannase was at 40 °C with tannic acid concentration up to 50 g/l. Moreover, bioremediation of heavy metal (Cr3+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Fe3+, and Mn2+) from aqueous solution using A. glaucus biomass waste was achieved with uptake percentage of (37.20, 60.30, 55.27, 79.03 and 21.13 respectively). The biomass was successfully used repeatedly for removing Cr3+ after using desorbing agent (0.1 N HCl) for three cycles. CONCLUSION: These results shed the light on the potential use of tannase from locally isolated A. glaucus in the bioremediation of industrial tanneries contained heavy metals and tannin.

Mass Flow and Metabolic Pathway of Nonaeration Greywater Treatment in an Oxygenic Microalgal-Bacterial Biofilm.

A symbiotic microalgal-bacterial biofilm can enable efficient carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) removal during aeration-free wastewater treatment. However, the contributions of microalgae and bacteria to C and N removal remain unexplored. Here, we developed a baffled oxygenic microalgal-bacterial biofilm reactor (MBBfR) for the nonaerated treatment of greywater. A hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 h gave the highest biomass concentration and biofilm thickness as well as the maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (94.8%), linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS, 99.7%), and total nitrogen (97.4%). An HRT of 4 h caused a decline in all of the performance metrics due to LAS biotoxicity. Most of C (92.6%) and N (95.7%) removals were ultimately associated with newly synthesized biomass, with only minor fractions transformed into CO2 (2.2%) and N2 (1.7%) on the function of multifarious-related enzymes in the symbiotic biofilm. Specifically, microalgae photosynthesis contributed to the removal of C and N at 75.3 and 79.0%, respectively, which accounted for 17.3% (C) and 16.7% (N) by bacteria assimilation. Oxygen produced by microalgae favored the efficient organics mineralization and CO2 supply by bacteria. The symbiotic biofilm system achieved stable and efficient removal of C and N during greywater treatment, thus providing a novel technology to achieve low-energy-input wastewater treatment, reuse, and resource recovery.

Experimental investigation of Cd (II) ion adsorption on surface-modified mixed seaweed Biosorbent: A study on analytical interpretation and thermodynamics.

Despite advancements in wastewater treatment technologies, heavy metal contamination, especially cadmium (Cd), severely threatens human health and ecosystems. The purpose of this work is to compare the removal of Cd (II) ions from aqueous solutions by chemically modified mixed seaweed biosorbent (CMSB) and physically modified mixed seaweed biosorbent (PMSB). BET, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and XRD techniques characterized the mixed seaweed biosorbents before and after adsorption. They are well-known for their sustainability, affordability, and biodegradability. The BET study revealed that CMSB had a surface area of 19.682 m2/g, while PMSB had a lower surface area of 14.803 m2/g. The optimum adsorption conditions were a temperature of 303 K, pH of 6.0, and biosorbent dosages of 1 g/L for CMSB and 2.5 g/L for PMSB. For CMSB and PMSB, the most efficient contact times were 40 and 80 min, respectively. The Langmuir model was demonstrated to be the best fit for the experimental data when compared to other isotherm models, with a coefficient of determination, or R2, of 0.9713 and a maximum monolayer capacity of 151.2 mg/g and 181.6 mg/g for physical and chemical activated mixed seaweed biomass. There was a significant relationship between the R2 values of chemically modified and physically modified biomass. The findings demonstrate that pseudo-second-order kinetics more accurately represent the adsorption process than pseudo-first-order and Elovich models. Thermodynamic experiments validated the endothermic, spontaneous and favourable characteristics of the removal process. According to the results of the current study, PMSB and CMSB may be used as effective adsorbents to remove Cd (II) from aqueous solutions.

Roles of pH and phosphate in rare earth element biosorption with living acidophilic microalgae.

The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) has spurred interest in the development of recovery methods from aqueous waste streams. Acidophilic microalgae have gained attention for REE biosorption as they can withstand high concentrations of transition metals and do not require added organic carbon to grow, potentially allowing simultaneous sorption and self-replication of the sorbent. Here, we assessed the potential of Galdieria sulphuraria for REE biosorption under acidic, nutrient-replete conditions from solutions containing ≤ 15 ppm REEs. Sorption at pH 1.5-2.5 (the growth optimum of G. sulphuraria) was poor but improved up to 24-fold at pH 5.0 in phosphate-free conditions. Metabolic activity had a negative impact on REE sorption, additionally challenging the feasibility of REE biosorption under ideal growth conditions for acidophiles. We further examined the possibility of REE biosorption in the presence of phosphate for biomass growth at elevated pH (pH ≥ 2.5) by assessing aqueous La concentrations in various culture media. Three days after adding La into the media, dissolved La concentrations were up to three orders of magnitude higher than solubility predictions due to supersaturation, though LaPO4 precipitation occurred under all conditions when seed was added. We concluded that biosorption should occur separately from biomass growth to avoid REE phosphate precipitation. Furthermore, we demonstrated the importance of proper control experiments in biosorption studies to assess potential interactions between REEs and matrix ions such as phosphates. KEY POINTS: • REE biosorption with G. sulphuraria increases significantly when raising pH to 5 • Phosphate for biosorbent growth has to be supplied separately from biosorption • Biosorption studies have to assess potential matrix effects on REE behavior.

Landfill leachate treatment using fungi and fungal enzymes: a review.

Landfill leachate raises a huge risk to human health and the environment as it contains a high concentration of organic and inorganic contaminants, heavy metals, ammonia, and refractory substances. Among leachate treatment techniques, the biological methods are more environmentally benign and less expensive than the physical-chemical treatment methods. Over the last few years, fungal-based treatment processes have become popular due to their ability to produce powerful oxidative enzymes like peroxidases and laccases. Fungi have shown better removal efficiency in terms of color, ammonia, and COD. However, their use in the treatment of leachate is relatively recent and still needs to be investigated. This review article assesses the potential of fungi and fungal-derived enzymes in treating landfill leachate. The review also compares different enzymes involved in the fungal catabolism of organic pollutants and the enzyme degradation mechanisms. The effect of parameters like pH, temperature, contact time, dosage variation, heavy metals and ammonia are discussed. The paper also explores the reactor configuration used in the fungal treatment and the techniques used to improve leachate treatment efficacy, like pretreatment and fungi immobilisation. Finally, the review summarises the limitations and the future direction of work required to adapt the fungal application for leachate treatment on a large scale.

Remediation of heavy metals polluted soil environment: A critical review on biological approaches.

Heavy metals (HMs) pollution is a globally emerging concern. It is difficult to cost-effectively combat such HMs polluted soil environments. The efficient remediation of HMs polluted soil is crucial to protect human health and ecological security that could be carried out by several methods. Amidst, biological remediation is the most affordable and ecological. This review focused on the principles, mechanisms, performances, and influential factors in bioremediation of HMs polluted soil. In microbial remediation, microbes can alter metallic compounds in soils. They transform these compounds into their metabolism through biosorption and bioprecipitation. The secreted microbial enzymes act as transformers and assist in HMs immobilization. The synergistic microbial effect can further improve HMs removal. In bioleaching, the microbial activity can simultaneously produce H2SO4 or organic acids and leach HMs. The production of acids and the metabolism of bacteria and fungi transform metallic compounds to soluble and extractable form. The key bioleaching mechanisms are acidolysis, complexolysis, redoxolysis and bioaccumulation. In phytoremediation, hyperaccumulator plants and their rhizospheric microbes absorb HMs by roots through absorption, cation exchange, filtration, and chemical changes. Then they exert different detoxification mechanisms. The detoxified HMs are then transferred and accumulated in their harvestable tissues. Plant growth-promoting bacteria can promote phytoremediation efficiency; however, use of chelants have adverse effects. There are some other biological methods for the remediation of HMs polluted soil environment that are not extensively practiced. Finally, the findings of this review will assist the practitioners and researchers to select the appropriate bioremediation approach for a specific soil environment.

Reproductive strategy response of the fungi Sarocladium and the evaluation for remediation under stress of heavy metal Cd(II).

Cadmium (Cd) is documented as one of the most lethal metals and poses a major threat to all life forms in the environment due to its toxic effects. Bioremediation of hazardous metals has received considerable and growing interest over the years. The functional fungi with tolerance to the heavy metal Cd were screened from the mining soil samples. Two fungi isolates from coal mine soil were characterized as Sarocladium sp. M2 and Sarocladium sp. M6 based on morphological and partial ITS sequencing analysis. M2 and M6 exhibited high levels of resistance to cadmium, and they were investigated for their micro-morphology and application in heavy metal removal with different concentration Cd(II) (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L). The colony morphology of M2 and M6 gradually become very similar to that of bacteria with the increase of cadmium concentration (150-200 mg/L). Micro-morphological studies showed that Cd(II) exposure caused the disappearance of conidial heads and the occurrence of hyphae breakage (100-200 mg/L Cd(II), which is consistent to the colony morphology results. The surface/volume ratio of the spores decreased with the presence of Cd(II). The removal potential of fungi for cadmium was quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. M2 and M6 showed great potential as bioremediators for highly Cd(II)-contaminated environment. The highest Cd(II) biosorption capacity was 5.13 ± 0.21 mg/g for M2 and 6.04 ± 0.21 mg/g for M6. The highest heavy metal sorption by M2 removed 57.11% ± 4.45% Cd(II) while that of M6 removed 48.35% ± 1.44% Cd(II) in 200 mg/L initial concentration Cd(II). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that cadmium induced the change of reproduction mode of the Sarocladium, from conidia to arthrospores, which made the colony morphological modifications, from the fungi colony morphology to the bacteria colony morphology. The arthrospore-modified (hyphae breakage) seemed to accumulate greater amounts of heavy metals than filamentous hyphae formation.

Biodegradation and adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene by fungi-bacterial coculture.

In this work, the relationship and kinetics of biodegradation and bio-adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by Bacillus and Ascomycota were explored, and the metabolites of BaP under mixed microbial coculture were analyzed and characterized. The results show that BaP was removed through both biosorption and biodegradation. Under mixed microbial coculture, biosorption played a significant role in the early stage and biodegradation was predominant in the later stage. During the removal of BaP, the fungi exhibited remarkable adsorption capabilities for BaP with an adsorption efficiency (AE) of 38.14 %, while bacteria had a best degradation for BaP with a degradation efficiency (DE) of 56.13 %. Under the mixed microbial culture, the removal efficiency (RE) of BaP by the synergistic action of fungi and bacteria reached up to 76.12 % within 15 days. Kinetics analysis illustrated that the degradation and adsorption process of BaP were well fit to the first-order and the pseudo-second-order kinetic models, respectively. The research on the relationship between degradation and adsorption during microbial removal of BaP, as well as the synergistic effects of fungi and bacteria, will provide a theoretical guidance for two or even synthetic microbial communities.

Biosorption of pb(II) from aqueous solution by citrus reticulate: adsorption studies, and modeling.

Removing toxic Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by the peels of citrus reticulate (mandarin orange), a fruit industry waste, presents suitable scale-up possibilities. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) studies reflected that the mandarin orange peel powder had a porous surface area (32.46 m2g-1), average pore size and pore volume was 38.6 Å and 0.402 cm3g-1, respectively, favorable for binding Pb(II) ions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed C-Br stretching, primary alcohol (C-O), phenolic O-H, and carbodimide N = C = N bands primarily helped to bind Pb(II) ions. The study evaluated and optimized the parametric influences of pH, adsorbate and biosorbent concentration, contact time and temperature on the removal efficiency of Pb(II) ions. A maximum of 97.08% Pb(II) was removed from 20 mg L-1 solution when 2.5 g L-1 adsorbent was present. The reaction obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The intra-particle diffusion was involved in lead sorption. The Langmuir isotherm model resulted in an adsorption capacity of 23.04 mg g-1. 35.28% Pb(II) was removed in the 3rd adsorption-desorption cycle with 0.4 M HCl. The adsorption process was natural, impulsive and endothermic. The statistical investigation used Multiple Polynomial Regression (MPR) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The analysis effectively forecasted the percentage removal at the optimized condition.

The results of toxic Pb(II) ion removal from aqueous solution by the peels of citrus reticulate (mandarin orange), a food industry waste, are reported. The maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 23.04 mg/g. This work provides a new way to realize good adsorption capacity of Pb(II) by orange peel and accelerates to utilize for small and medium-sized industries in rural areas of 3^rd World Countries.

Biosorption of hexavalent chromium and molybdenum ions using extremophilic cyanobacterial mats: efficiency, isothermal, and kinetic studies.

Two extremophilic cyanobacterial-bacterial consortiums naturally grow in extreme habitats of high temperature and hypersaline were used to remediate hexavalent chromium and molybdenum ions. Extremophilic cyanobacterial-bacterial biomasses were collected from Zeiton and Aghormi Lakes in the Western Desert, Egypt, and were applied as novel and promising natural adsorbents for hexavalent chromium and molybdenum. Some physical characterizations of biosorbent surfaces were described using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy, and surface area measure. The maximum removal efficiencies of both biosorbents were 15.62-22.72 mg/g for Cr(VI) and 42.15-46.29 mg/g for Mo(VI) at optimum conditions of pH 5, adsorbent biomass of 2.5-3.0 g/L, and 150 min contact time. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were better fit for Cr(VI), whereas Langmuir model was better fit than the Freundlich model for Mo(VI) biosorption. The kinetic results revealed that the adsorption reaction obeyed the pseudo-second-order model confirming a chemisorption interaction between microbial films and the adsorbed metals. Zeiton biomass exhibited a relatively higher affinity for removing Cr(VI) than Aghormi biomass but a lower affinity for Mo(VI) removal. The results showed that these extremophiles are novel and promising candidates for toxic metal remediation.

Even though many researchers worked on the field of metal bioremediation, most use single organism or extracted biogenic materials for heavy metals removal. The novelty of this study is the application of a consortium of cyanobacteria and bacteria from extreme habitats (hyper-salinity, high temperature, harsh weather conditions, high intensity of light and UV light) in the field of environmental safety. This specialized microbial film composed of a diverse group of adapted organisms that co-operate between each other making them more effective bio-remediating agent. This study examined the effectiveness of these consortia as metals bioremediator and cover the gap of research results from the scarce application of novel, cheap and eco-friendly extremophiles in toxic metals removal.

Enhancement of biosorption capability of imidazolium-based ionic liquid-treated Prosopis juliflora for the removal of malachite green from wastewater.

Due to its toxicity effect, treating toxic pollutants discharged from textile effluent is challenging for living beings. In the present study, the comparative biosorption potential of imidazolium-based ionic liquid-treated Prosopis juliflora (ILPJS) and untreated P. juliflora (PJS) was investigated for the removal of toxic pollutant, malachite green (MG) from aqueous solution. The textural, surface morphology, and functional analysis of ILPJS and PJS were examined using BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis, SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) analysis, and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis. Textural property (BET surface area) and surface morphology containing irregular heterogeneous surface for ILPJS were significantly improved than PJS, thereby facilitating significant biosorption of MG. Based on the conventional optimization studies, the essential biosorption parameters for the removal of MG using ILPJS were found to be: initial pH (9.0), contact time (30 min), and biosorbent dosage (0.2 g). The maximum biosorption capacity of PJS and ILPJS were obtained to be 6.91 and 13.64 mg/g at 40 °C, respectively. The spontaneous and endothermic biosorption of MG was confirmed by thermodynamic analysis. The regeneration study indicated the greater reusability of ILPJS and PJS for MG removal till the fifth cycle. Based on the previous literature, this is the first report comparing the removal of toxic pollutant MG using ILPJS and PJS.

Prosopis juliflora is an invasive weed that causes a severe challenge to ecological diversity and rural livelihoods due to the continuous consumption of water throughout the year, leading to the depletion of groundwater reserves. To control its invasion and growth, weed has been applied as biosorbents to remove toxic pollutant, malachite green (MG). This is the first report comparing the pretreatment of P. juliflora using imidazolium-based ionic liquid (ILPJS) with raw P. juliflora (PJS) for the biosorption of MG. The biosorption capacity of ILPJS for MG removal was 1.97 times higher than PJS. The enhancement in biosorption capacity might be the possibility of better textural and surface morphology of chemically treated P. juliflora. Thermodynamic studies revealed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of the biosorption of MG on PJS. With the invasion of this weed over thousands of hectares of land in India, PJS is the ideal biosorbent for removing toxic chemical pollutants and preserving the groundwater level.

Biosorption of a common micropollutant (methylene blue) from a water environment by chemically activated biomass of a widely available plant species (Pyracantha coccinea M. J. Roemer).

Recently, to protect the health of aquatic life and, indirectly, all living things, biomass-based substances have been increasingly applied as biosorbent materials to remove micropollutant agents from an aquatic environment. However, these studies are under development, and the search for more successful materials continues. Here, the biosorption of a common micropollutant, methylene blue, from an aquatic environment was investigated using the chemically activated biomass of a widely available plant species, Pyracantha coccinea M. J. Roemer. The biosorption efficiency of the biosorbent material was improved by optimizing the experimental conditions, including the contact time, micropollutant load, pH, and biosorbent material amount, and the highest performance was observed at t = 360 mins, C0 = 15 mg L-1, pH = 8 and m = 10 mg. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Freundlich isotherm model were in good agreement with the experimentally obtained results. The thermodynamic study suggested that the micropollutant biosorption was a favorable, spontaneous, and physical process. The micropollutant-biosorbent interaction mechanism was presented using SEM and FTIR studies. The maximum Langmuir biosorption capacity of the biosorbent was determined to be 156.674 mg g-1. The activation operation more than doubled the biosorption potential of the biosorbent material. Thus, the present study showed that the chemically activated plant biomass-based material could be a promising biosorbent for the effective removal of the micropollutant from water environment.

The biosorption of a common micropollutant, methylene blue, from a water environment was studied using chemically activated biomass of Pyracantha coccinea M. J. Roemer. The activation operation more than doubled the biosorption potential of the biosorbent material. It exhibited higher micropollutant biosorption performance compared to most other biosorbents. These results indicated that the chemically activated biomaterial could be a very effective biosorbent for the micropollutant biosorption from an aqueous medium.

Evaluation of Azolla filiculoides potential in pyrene and phenanthrene accumulation and phytoremediation in contaminated waters.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a serious threat to the health of the environment. This study investigated the potential of Azolla filiculoides for the uptake, accumulation, and biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene. A- filiculoides plants were treated with 10 and 30 mg L-1 concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene for the experimental duration of ten days. Phenanthrene and pyrene concentrations were measured using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Identification of the intermediate by-products resulting from the biological degradation of PAHs was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The quantities of phenanthrene and pyrene in the ten-day treatments with 10 and 30 mg L-1 were 0.007 and 0.011 mg g-1 FW, and 0.048 and 0.079 mg g-1 FW, respectively. The growth parameters in the plants such as fresh weight, dry weight and RFN as well as the content of photosynthetic pigment of the plant decreased significantly compared to the control sample (p < 0.05). Ten compounds were identified from the plant tissue during the decomposition of pyrene and phenanthrene, and none of the PAHs were identified in the aquatic environment. Therefore, the use of A-filiculoides for phytoremediation of water resources contaminated with PAHs is an effective and promising method.

This study estimated the efficiency of Azolla filiculoides phytoremediation in the uptake, accumulation and biodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in polluted waters as a total of 100%. High accumulation of pyrene and phenanthrene in the plant tissue decreased plant growth and the number of photosynthetic pigments. GC-MS analysis, identified ten by-products resulting from the degradation of pyrene and phenanthrene in A-filiculoides plant tissue. HPLC analysis showed that there are no substances of PAHs in the water environment.

Sequestration of a food dye (sunset yellow) from wastewater using natural adsorbent: a kinetic, isotherm and interference study.

Cocos nucifera, commonly known as coconut is rich in coir dust (CCD) at its outer surface, which is a very significant agri waste used as biosorbent for wastewater treatment. The current work addresses use of CCD for removal of hazardous Sunset Yellow dye (SY) FCF widely used as coloring agent in food industry, from wastewater. The uptake capacity in batch and column mode is 82 mg/g and 160 mg/g respectively. Characterization study including SEM, FTIR and BET results also supported the adsorption process. The comparative analysis with other natural biosorbents showed best results of biosorption with CCD. The output was better at high pH (10) and lower concentration of dye (5 mg/L). The kinetic study suggested pseudo second order rate revealing both adsorbate-adsorbent interdependency. The presence of covalent bonding or valence forces between the interfaces, suggested chemisorption as the rate limiting mechanism with valence forces, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking being the chief forces responsible in binding of the dye molecules to the surface. The isotherm supported Langmuir model with monolayer and uniform adsorption at the interfaces. The interference test confirmed slight decrease in percent adsorption with interference from chloride and sulfate as dominating ions. The techno-economic feasibility highly recommended in field application of the substitute (net profit value, 1.256 Rs/m3, input cost, 0.052 Rs/m3). The industrial sample analysis with lab to land approach justified sustainability and commercial viability of the present work.

Facile removal of a food dye (sunset yellow, FCF) using Coconut coir dust (CCD).Uptake capacity in batch and column mode is 82 mg/g and 160 mg/g respectively.Chemisorption as the rate limiting mechanism with valence forces, hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking being the chief forces.Better uptake efficiency is seen at higher pH (10) and lower concentration (5mg/L).

Modeling competitive biosorption for methylene blue removal on rape straw powders using response surface methodology in a ternary dye aqueous solution.

The improvement of biosorption efficiency for selective dye removal in a multi-dye aqueous system has become an increasingly significant research topic. However, the competitive effects of coexisting dyes and the target dye in such systems remain uncertain due to complex interactions between adsorbent and coexisting dyes. Therefore, in this research, response surface methodology (RSM) model was effectively employed to investigate the competitive effects of allura red (AR) and malachite green (MG) on methylene blue (MB) removal in a ternary dye aqueous system using three different parts of rape straw powders. In the current design of RSM, the initial concentrations of AR and MG dyes ranging from 0 mg·L-1 to 500 mg·L-1 were considered as influencing factors, while the removal rates of MB on adsorbents at an initial concentration of 500 mg·L-1 were established as response values. The RSM models exhibited high correlation coefficients with adjusted R2 values of 0.9908 (pith core), 0.9870 (seedpods), and 0.9902 (shells), respectively, indicating a close fitted between predicted and actual values. The proposed models indicated that the perturbation effects of initial AR and MG concentrations were observed on the removal rates of MB by three types of rape straw powders in a ternary dye aqueous system, resulting in a decrease in MB removal rates, particularly at higher initial AR concentration due to stronger competitive effects compared to initial MG concentration. The structures of rape straw powders, including pith core, seedpods and shell, were analyzed using scanning eletron microscoe (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), N2 physisorption isotherm, frourier transform infared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential classes and fluorescence spectrum before and after adsorption of MB in various dye aqueous systems. The characteristics of rape straw powders suggested that similar adsorption mechanisms, such as electrostatic attraction, pore diffusion, and group complex formation for MB, AR, and MG, respectively, occurred on the surfaces of adsorbents during their respective adsorption processes. This leads to significant competitive effects on the removal rates of MB in a ternary dye aqueous system, which are particularly influenced by initial AR concentrations as confirmed through fluorescence spectrum analysis.

Impact of AR and MG on MB removal was analyzed using simple methodologies.Competitive behaviors between AR, MG and MB were understood through RSM.Intense restrain effects on MB removal were revealed by AR concentration.

Role of chromium reductases, antioxidants, and biosorption against oxidative damage of metals by Bacillus cereus.

Current research was performed to look for the performance of Bacillus cereus PY3 for metal detoxification. Strain PY3 was recognized as B. cereus using 16 S rRNA. Higher rate of removal of Zn and Cr (VI) by PY3 was obtained between pH 6-8 and 100-500 µg/mL in 24 h. Highest removal of Cr6+ by strain PY3 was achieved at acidic, neutral, and alkaline atmosphere, 100-300 µg Cr6+ /mL and 25-35°C. Supernatant of PY3 detoxified Cr6+ into Cr3+ then cell pellet (debris) adsorbed them. The mechanism of metal removal was due to the release of cytolic extracts. Release of antioxidants and bio-film played a protective role against cell damage. Metals increased antioxidants and bio-film formation. SEM images showed the smooth external structure of PY3 when cells were exposed to metals thus confirming the role of cells for detoxification. Results Above facts conclude that PY3 can remove metallic pollution in polluted soil.

A biogenic hydrogel to recover Au(III) from electronic waste.

In the course of this investigation, we undertook the contemplation of a green chemistry paradigm with the express intent of procuring valuable metal, namely gold, from electronic waste (e-waste). In pursuit of this overarching objective, we conceived a procedural framework consisting of two pivotal stages. As an initial stage, we introduced a physical separation procedure relying on the utilization of the Eddy current separator, prior to embarking on the process of leaching from e-waste. Subsequent to the partitioning of metals from the non-metal constituents of waste printed circuit boards (PCB), we initiated an investigation into the hydrogel derived from basil seeds (Ocimum basilicum L.), utilizing it as a biogenic sorbent medium. The thorough characterization of hydrogel extracted from basil seeds involved the application of an array of analytical techniques, encompassing FTIR, XRD, SEM, and BET. The batch sorption experiments show more than 90% uptake in the pH range of 2-5. The sorption capacity of the hydrogel material was evaluated as 188.44 mg g-1 from the Langmuir Isotherm model. The potential interference stemming from a spectrum of other ions, encompassing Al, Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Pb was systematically examined. Notably, the sole instance of interference in the context of adsorption of gold ions was observed to be associated with the presence of lead. The application of the hydrogel demonstrated a commendable efficiency in the recovery of Au(III) from the leached solution derived from the waste PCB.

Water Hyacinth Leaves Are an Efficient, Green, and Cost-Effective Biosorbent for the Removal of Metanil Yellow from Aqueous Solution: Kinetics, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Studies.

Excessive water hyacinth growth in aquatic environments and metanil yellow (MY) dye in industrial wastewater pose severe environmental and public health challenges. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of various process factors on batch MY biosorption onto water hyacinth leaves (LECs) and MY biosorption kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamics. The optimal pH for MY biosorption by LECs was 1.5-2.0. The initial MY concentration affected the equilibrium MY biosorption capacity but not the LEC particle size and solution temperature. However, the LEC particle size and solution temperature affected the MY biosorption rate; the biosorption rate was higher at a lower particle size (0.15-0.3 mm) and a higher temperature (62 °C) than at higher particle sizes and lower temperatures. The pseudo-second-order model adequately described the biosorption kinetics of MY by LECs at the different levels of the process factors, whereas the Sips and Redlich-Peterson models satisfactorily represented the biosorption isotherm of MY. The Sips model predicted a maximum MY biosorption capacity of 170.8 mg g-1. The biosorption of MY by LECs was endothermic and not spontaneous. These findings demonstrate that LECs exhibit great potential for bioremediating MY-contaminated wastewater, thereby providing valuable insights for effective water treatment and pollution control strategies.

Exploring Bacterial Cellulose and a Biosurfactant as Eco-Friendly Strategies for Addressing Pharmaceutical Contaminants.

Aquatic environments face contamination by pharmaceuticals, prompting concerns due to their toxicity even at low concentrations. To combat this, we developed an ecologically sustainable biosurfactant derived from a microorganism and integrated it into bacterial cellulose (BC). This study aimed to evaluate BC's efficacy, with and without the biosurfactant, as a sorbent for paracetamol and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in water. We cultivated BC membranes using Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 53582 and synthesized the biosurfactant through pre-inoculation of Bacillus subtilis in a synthetic medium. Subsequently, BC membranes were immersed in the biosurfactant solution for incorporation. Experiments were conducted using contaminated water, analyzing paracetamol concentrations via spectrophotometry and EE2 levels through high-performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated BC's superior adsorption for EE2 over paracetamol. Incorporating the biosurfactant reduced hormone adsorption but enhanced paracetamol sorption. Notably, original and freeze-dried BC exhibited better adsorption efficacy than biosurfactant-infused BC. In conclusion, BC showed promise in mitigating EE2 contamination, suggesting its potential for environmental remediation. Future research could focus on optimizing biosurfactant concentrations to enhance sorption capabilities without compromising BC's inherent effectiveness.