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3 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water: A Report about the State of the Art

by Fabrizio Olivito and Pravin Jagdale

Toxics 2022, 10(3), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10030128 - 7 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1711

Abstract

The growing increase in the world population was accompanied by a massive development of industrialization [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

Research

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9 pages, 1278 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperCommunication

Nanoparticled Titanium Dioxide to Remediate Crude Oil Exposure. An In Vivo Approach in Dicentrarchus labrax

by Patrizia Guidi, Margherita Bernardeschi, Vittoria Scarcelli, Paolo Lucchesi, Mara Palumbo, Ilaria Corsi and Giada Frenzilli

Toxics 2022, 10(3), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10030111 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2244

Abstract

The contamination of marine water bodies with petroleum hydrocarbons represents a threat to ecosystems and human health. In addition to the surface slick of crude oil, the water-soluble fraction of petroleum is responsible for the induction of severe toxic effects at different cellular [...] Read more.

The contamination of marine water bodies with petroleum hydrocarbons represents a threat to ecosystems and human health. In addition to the surface slick of crude oil, the water-soluble fraction of petroleum is responsible for the induction of severe toxic effects at different cellular and molecular levels. Some petroleum-derived hydrocarbons are classified as carcinogenic and mutagenic contaminants; therefore, the oil spill into the marine environment can have long term consequences to the biota. Therefore, new tools able to remediate crude oil water accommodation fraction pollution in marine water are highly recommended. Nanomaterials were recently proposed in environmental remediation processes. In the present in vivo study, the efficacy of pure anatase titanium nanoparticles (n-TiO₂) was tested on Dicentrarchus labrax exposed to the accommodated fraction of crude oil. It was found that n-TiO₂ nano-powders themselves were harmless in terms of DNA primary damage, and the capability of pure anatase n-TiO₂ to lower the levels of DNA damage induced by a mixture of genotoxic pollutant was revealed. These preliminary results on a laboratory scale are the prerequisite for deepening this new technology for the abatement of the cellular effects related with oil spill pollutants released in marine environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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14 pages, 2968 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Removal of Polystyrene Microplastics from Aqueous Solution Using the Metal–Organic Framework Material of ZIF-67

by Hongyou Wan, Junkai Wang, Xiaoyu Sheng, Jingwei Yan, Wei Zhang and Ying Xu

Toxics 2022, 10(2), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10020070 - 4 Feb 2022

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 5230

Abstract

Due to the continuous and adverse effects of microplastics on the environment, an increasing number of studies have begun to focus on their migration patterns and removal from aquatic environments. Herein, our study innovatively evaluated the ability of the capacity of ZIF-67, a [...] Read more.

Due to the continuous and adverse effects of microplastics on the environment, an increasing number of studies have begun to focus on their migration patterns and removal from aquatic environments. Herein, our study innovatively evaluated the ability of the capacity of ZIF-67, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) material, to adsorb polystyrene (PS) microplastics (MPs) from aqueous solutions, aiming to explore the potential of MOF materials to remove MPs from wastewater. The adsorption ratio of PSMPs (5 mg/L, 30 mL) by ZIF-67 reached up to 92.1%, and the PSMP adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 20 min at 298 K. The adsorption of PSMPs would be favored at a pH of 8, a PSMPs solution concentration of 5 mg/L, and a temperature of 298 K. Further analyses demonstrated that hydrogen bond interactions, π-π stacking, and electrostatic interactions played a crucial role in the adsorption of PSMPs by ZIF-67 in aqueous solutions. Our findings thus provide insight into novel methods to remove MPs from acidic and weakly alkaline aquatic environments and wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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12 pages, 2406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Bioelectrochemical Approach and Different Electron Donors for Biological Trichloroethylene Reductive Dechlorination

by Edoardo Dell’Armi, Marta Maria Rossi, Lucia Taverna, Marco Petrangeli Papini and Marco Zeppilli

Toxics 2022, 10(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10010037 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2405

Abstract

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and more in general chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) can be removed from a contaminated matrix thanks to microorganisms able to perform the reductive dechlorination reaction (RD). Due to the lack of electron donors in the contaminated matrix, CAHs’ reductive dechlorination can [...] Read more.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) and more in general chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) can be removed from a contaminated matrix thanks to microorganisms able to perform the reductive dechlorination reaction (RD). Due to the lack of electron donors in the contaminated matrix, CAHs’ reductive dechlorination can be stimulated by fermentable organic substrates, which slowly release molecular hydrogen through their fermentation. In this paper, three different electron donors constituted by lactate, hydrogen, and a biocathode of a bioelectrochemical cell have been studied in TCE dechlorination batch experiments. The batch reactors evaluated in terms of reductive dechlorination rate and utilization efficiency of the electron donor reported that the bio-electrochemical system (BES) showed a lower RD rate with respect of lactate reactor (51 ± 9 µeq/d compared to 98 ± 4 µeq/d), while the direct utilization of molecular hydrogen gave a significantly lower RD rate (19 ± 8 µeq/d), due to hydrogen low solubility in liquid media. The study also gives a comparative evaluation of the different electron donors showing the capability of the bioelectrochemical system to reach comparable efficiencies with a fermentable substrate without the use of other chemicals, 10.7 ± 3.3% for BES with respect of 3.5 ± 0.2% for the lactate-fed batch reactor. This study shows the BES capability of being an alternative at classic remediation approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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19 pages, 4550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of ZnO-Nd Nano-Photocatalyst for the Reactive Red 198 Dye Decolorization in the Falling-Film Photocatalytic Reactor

by Fatemeh Biglar, Amirreza Talaiekhozani, Farham Aminsharei, Junboum Park, Anahita Barghi and Shahabaldin Rezania

Toxics 2021, 9(10), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9100254 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1873

Abstract

A large amount of Reactive red 198 (RR198) is released yearly into the environment. RR198 is toxic for human and aquatic creatures; therefore, it should be removed from wastewater before releasing into the environment. In this study, the nano ZnO-Nd -photo-catalyst for the [...] Read more.

A large amount of Reactive red 198 (RR198) is released yearly into the environment. RR198 is toxic for human and aquatic creatures; therefore, it should be removed from wastewater before releasing into the environment. In this study, the nano ZnO-Nd -photo-catalyst for the first time was synthesized by the combustion method. First, the physical characteristics of the generated nano photocatalyst were evaluated using FESEM, XRD, Bandgap calculation, and FTIR analysis. Then, the ZnO-Nd nano-photocatalyst was suspended into the contaminated water with RR198 dye in a falling-film photocatalytic reactor. The effects of parameters such as the amount of H₂O₂, catalyst dose, pH, and initial concentration of dye were investigated during the experiments. Finally, the decolorization process with the falling-film photocatalytic reactor was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The physical characteristics showed that the average particle size of the synthesized ZnO-Nd was 40 nm. Doping ZnO with Nd reduced the photocatalyst energy bandgap by 14%. The results indicated that the optimum amount of catalyst dose and pH level was 0.1 g/L and 5, respectively. The simultaneous usage of H₂O₂ and ZnO-Nd with an H₂O₂/dye ratio of two increased dye removal performance by 90%. The results demonstrated that the developed equations can be applied to predict the performance of the falling-film photoreactor. This study showed that using the nano ZnO-Nd photocatalyst in a falling-film photocatalytic reactor under optimum operating conditions is an appropriate way to remove RR198 from water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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17 pages, 4297 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Efficient and Fast Removal of Oils from Water Surfaces via Highly Oleophilic Polyurethane Composites

by Antonio De Nino, Fabrizio Olivito, Vincenzo Algieri, Paola Costanzo, Antonio Jiritano, Matteo Antonio Tallarida and Loredana Maiuolo

Toxics 2021, 9(8), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9080186 - 5 Aug 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3289

Abstract

In this study we evaluated the oil adsorption capacity of an aliphatic polyurethane foam (PU 1) and two of its composites, produced through surface coating using microparticles of silica (PU-Si 2) and activated carbon (PU-ac 3). The oil adsorption capacity [...] Read more.

In this study we evaluated the oil adsorption capacity of an aliphatic polyurethane foam (PU 1) and two of its composites, produced through surface coating using microparticles of silica (PU-Si 2) and activated carbon (PU-ac 3). The oil adsorption capacity in diesel was improved up to 36% using the composite with silica and up to 50% using the composite with activated carbon with respect to the initial PU 1. Excellent performances were retained in gasoline and motor oil. The adsorption was complete after a few seconds. The process follows a monolayer adsorption fitted by the Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 29.50 g/g of diesel for the composite with activated carbon (PU-ac 3). These materials were proved to be highly oleophilic for oil removal from fresh water and sea water samples. Regeneration and reuse can be repeated up to 50 times by centrifugation, without a significant loss in adsorption capacity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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16 pages, 4097 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Defective Bismuth Oxide as Effective Adsorbent for Arsenic Removal from Water and Wastewater

by Ramona Balint, Mattia Bartoli, Pravin Jagdale, Alberto Tagliaferro, Abdul Samad Memon, Massimo Rovere and Maria Martin

Toxics 2021, 9(7), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9070158 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2588

Abstract

In this work, we report solid-state synthetized defective Bi₂O₃ containing Bi(V) sites as effective and recyclable arsenic adsorbent materials. Bi₂O₃ was extensively characterized, and structure-related adsorption processes are reported. Both As(V) and As(III) species-adsorption processes were investigated [...] Read more.

In this work, we report solid-state synthetized defective Bi₂O₃ containing Bi(V) sites as effective and recyclable arsenic adsorbent materials. Bi₂O₃ was extensively characterized, and structure-related adsorption processes are reported. Both As(V) and As(III) species-adsorption processes were investigated in a wide range of concentrations, pH values, and times. The effect of several competing ions was also tested together with the adsorbent recyclability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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13 pages, 2977 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Potential for PE Microplastics to Affect the Removal of Carbamazepine Medical Pollutants from Aqueous Environments by Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

by Xiaoyu Sheng, Junkai Wang, Wei Zhang and Qiting Zuo

Toxics 2021, 9(6), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9060139 - 12 Jun 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2824

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and interact with other kinds of pollutants, which affects the migration, transformation, and fate of those other pollutants. In this study, we employ carbamazepine (CBZ) as the contaminant to study the influence of polyethylene (PE) microplastics on [...] Read more.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and interact with other kinds of pollutants, which affects the migration, transformation, and fate of those other pollutants. In this study, we employ carbamazepine (CBZ) as the contaminant to study the influence of polyethylene (PE) microplastics on the adsorption of CBZ pollutants by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) in aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of CBZ by MCNTs in the presence of PE microplastics was obviously lower than that by MCNTs alone. The influencing factors, including the dose of microplastics, pH, and CBZ solution concentration, on the adsorption of CBZ by MCNTs and MCNTs−PE were thoroughly investigated. The adsorption rate of CBZ by MCNTs decreased from 97.4% to 90.6% as the PE microplastics dose increased from 2 g/L to 20 g/L. This decrease occurred because the MCNTs were coated on the surface of the PE microplastics, which further decreased the effective adsorption area of the MCNTs. This research provides a framework for revealing the effect of microplastics on the adsorption of pollutants by carbon materials in aqueous environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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Review

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20 pages, 4829 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Biochar-Supported TiO₂-Based Nanocomposites for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole in Water—A Review

by Subhash Chandra, Pravin Jagdale, Isha Medha, Ashwani Kumar Tiwari, Mattia Bartoli, Antonio De Nino and Fabrizio Olivito

Toxics 2021, 9(11), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9110313 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4994

Abstract

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a frequently used antibiotic for the treatment of urinary tract, respiratory, and intestinal infections and as a supplement in livestock or fishery farming to boost production. The release of SMX into the environment can lead to the development of antibiotic [...] Read more.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a frequently used antibiotic for the treatment of urinary tract, respiratory, and intestinal infections and as a supplement in livestock or fishery farming to boost production. The release of SMX into the environment can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance among the microbial community, which can lead to frequent clinical infections. SMX removal from water is usually done through advanced treatment processes, such as adsorption, photocatalytic oxidation, and biodegradation. Among them, the advanced oxidation process using TiO₂ and its composites is being widely used. TiO₂ is a widely used photocatalyst; however, it has certain limitations, such as low visible light response and quick recombination of e⁻/h⁺ pairs. Integrating the biochar with TiO₂ nanoparticles can overcome such limitations. The biochar-supported TiO₂ composites showed a significant increase in the photocatalytic activities in the UV-visible range, which resulted in a substantial increase in the degradation of SMX in water. The present review has critically reviewed the methods of biochar TiO₂ composite synthesis, the effect of biochar integration with the TiO₂ on its physicochemical properties, and the chemical pathways through which the biochar/TiO₂ composite degrades the SMX in water or aqueous solution. The degradation of SMX using photocatalysis can be considered a useful model, and the research studies presented in this review will allow extending this area of research on other types of similar pharmaceuticals or pollutants in general in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Technologies to Decontaminate Pollutants in Water)

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