Effects of sewage sludge fertilizer on heavy metal accumulation and consequent responses of sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>)

Use of sewage sludge, a biological residue produced from sewage treatment processes in agriculture, is an alternative disposal technique of waste. To study the usefulness of sewage sludge amendment for Helianthus annuus, a pot experiment was conducted by mixing sewage sludge at 2.5, 5, and 7.5 % (w/w) amendment ratios to the agricultural soil. Soil pH decreased whereas electrical conductivity, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable Na, K, and Ca increased in soil amended with sewage sludge in comparison to unamended soil. Sewage sludge amendment led to significant increase in Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Zn concentrations of soil. The increased concentration of heavy metals in soil due to sewage sludge amendment led to increases in shoot and root concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in plant as compared to those grown on unamended soil. Accumulation was more in roots than shoots for most of the heavy metals. Moreover, high metal removal for the harvestable parts of the crops was recorded. Sewage sludge amendment increased root and shoot length, leaves number, biomass, and antioxidant activities of sunflower. Significant increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and in the glutathione, proline, and soluble sugar content in response to amendment with sewage sludge may be defense mechanisms induced in response to heavy metal stress.

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Graphical abstract Origin, fate and behavior of sewage sludge fertilizer

     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Thin-Film Composite Nanofiltration Membrane Based on Polyamide-Cellulose Acetate: Application for Water Purification

Membrane separation has been widely used for various applications including microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), and nanofiltration (NF) processes in the fields of biomedicine, food, and water purification. In this work, a facile synthesis of new polyamide thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes (NF-TFC) for water purification was described. The polyamide thin film was deposed over a synthetic cellulose acetate (CA) support by interfacial polymerization method. 1,3 cyclohexane bis (methylamine) (CHMA) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) were used as monomers. The membranes were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), water uptake, porosity, contact angle, water permeability and rejection towards specific salt and dye molecules. The effect of the variation of the CHMA concentration (0.2–2 wt.%) on the morphology, porosity, water permeation and rejection properties of the prepared membranes was studied. SEM results displayed the growth of the membrane thickness when the CHMA concentration increased from 0.2 to 2 wt.%. The strong adhesion between the cellulose acetate substrate and the polyamide layer explained by the formation of the polyamide film in the substrate surface and inside the pores. The water permeability varied from 36.02 to 17.09 L h^?1 m^?2 bar^?1. The salt rejection of Na₂SO₄ and NaCl increased from 9 to 68% and from 38.41% to 89.4%, respectively, when the CHMA concentration was changed from 0.2 to 2 wt.%. The prepared membranes were further applied successfully for the removal of malachite green and congo red. The results indicated that the maximum rejection reached 89% and 85% for malachite green and congo red, respectively.