Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters using dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Dendrimer-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for heavy metal ion removal from wastewaters were developed. Triazole dendrimers (TD) were built directly onto the carbon nanotube surface by successive click chemistry reactions affording the zero- and first-generation dendrimer-functionalized MWCNT (MWCNT-TD1 and MWCNT-TD2). The Moedritzer-Irani reaction carried out on the amino groups present on the MWCNT-TD2 sample gave the corresponding α-aminophosphonate nanosystem MWCNT-TD2P. Both MWCNT-TD2 and MWCNT-TD2P nanosystems have been characterized by physical, chemical, and morphological analyses. Their chelating abilities towards the toxic metal ions Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Ni²⁺ and the harmless Ca²⁺ ion have been experimentally evaluated in the two different sets of experiments and at the salt concentrations of 1 mg/mL or 1 μg/mL by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results of these studies pointed out the interesting chelating behavior for the phosphonated nanosystem towards the Hg²⁺ ion. The complexation mode of the best chelating system MWCNT-TD2P with mercury was investigated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, suggesting a chelation mechanism involving the two oxygen atoms of the phosphate group. The synthesized dendrimers, supported on the multi-walled carbon nanotubes, have shown the potential to be used for the selective toxic metal ion removal and recovery.     

Biosurfactants during in situ bioremediation: factors that influence the production and challenges in evalution

Research on the influence of biosurfactants on the efficiency of in situ bioremediation of contaminated soil is continuously growing. Despite the constant progress in understanding the mechanisms involved in the effects of biosurfactants, there are still many factors that are not sufficiently elucidated. There is a lack of research on autochthonous or exogenous microbial metabolism when biostimulation or bioaugmentation is carried out to produce biosurfactants at contaminated sites. In addition, studies on the application of techniques that measure the biosurfactants produced in situ are needed. This is important because, although the positive influence of biosurfactants is often reported, there are also studies where no effect or negative effects have been observed. This review aimed to examine some studies on factors that can improve the production of biosurfactants in soils during in situ bioremediation. Moreover, this work reviews the methodologies that can be used for measuring the production of these biocomposts. We reviewed studies on the potential of biosurfactants to improve the bioremediation of hydrocarbons, as well as the limitations of methods for the production of these biomolecules by microorganisms in soil.     

Elemental mobility in sulfidic mine tailings reclaimed with paper mill by-products as sealing materials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sealing layers made of two alkaline paper mill by-products, fly ash and green liquor dregs, were placed on top of 50-year-old sulfide-containing...     

Dynamics of leaf litter and soil respiration in a complex multistrata agroforestry system,Pernambuco, Brazil

High litter inputs in agroforestry systems contribute to soil microbial activity, soil fertility and productivity. Considering that the cycling of organic matter is essential to the maintenance of physical–chemical and microbiological properties of the soil, the aims of this work were to estimate the production, accumulation and decomposition of litter, and assess soil microbial respiration in a complex multistrata agroforestry system located in the north-east of Brazil. This agroforestry system has three strata formed by forest and fruit trees and species of multiple uses. During 3 years (2011–2013), leaf litter was sampled monthly to account for litterfall and quarterly to account for litter accumulation. The rates of litter decomposition were estimated using the ratio produced-to-accumulated litter, and the correlation between litter fall and rainfall was calculated. Precipitation data were provided by the water and climate agency of Pernambuco (APAC). Soil samples (0–15 cm) were also taken quarterly, simultaneously with the litter accumulation samples, and soil microbial respiration was assessed using the capture, by a KOH solution, of the evolved CO₂. The annual production of leaf litter was stable in the 3 years of study in this agroforestry system, and the monthly input of litter to the soil was influenced by rainfall, being higher in the dry seasons. The accumulated litter on the ground was constant, as was microbial activity (respiration) through time. The estimated litter decomposition rates were 1.49 (first year), 1.33 (second year) and 1.42 (third year), being considered rapid rates of decomposition. This guarantees (to the farmer) that this system is capable of maintaining soil fertility and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.     

Organochlorine compounds in bovine milk from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul – Brazil

Organochlorines are highly hydrophobic, synthetic organic pollutants that accumulate in the environment and in food webs. The primary route of human exposure to organochlorines is through food-mainly fat-rich food of animal origin such as meat, fish, and dairy products. Here we determined the presence and concentration of organochlorine residues in pasteurized milk from Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to monitor consumer exposure to these contaminants. Organochlorine pesticides in milk samples were analyzed using solid phase extraction in octadecyl silica-prepacked columns and identified by gas chromatography using an electron capture detector. Of the 100 composite samples analyzed, more than 90% contained residues of organochlorine pesticides: aldrin was present in 44% of the samples, followed by ∑DDT (36%), mirex (34%), endosulfan (32%), chlordane (17%), dicofol (14%), heptachlor (11%) and dieldrin (11%). Compared to the values established by law, the concentration of the compounds in some samples was above the reference values. Given the importance that milk and its products have in the human diet, it is essential to know whether the levels of pesticide residues are kept well below the recommended levels to minimize the risk to human health.     

Preparation and Characterization of Clay Nanocomposites of Plasticized Starch and Polypropylene Polymer Blends

Plasticized starch (PLS) is a renewable, degradable, and inexpensive polymer, but it suffers from poor mechanical properties. The mechanical properties can be improved by blending PLS with polyolefins, nonetheless, at high PLS content, the mechanical properties remain poor. Here we show that addition of clay can greatly improve the mechanical properties of PLS/polypropylene blends at high starch content. Unmodified and organically modified montmorillonite clays, MMT and Cloisite 30B respectively, were added to blends of glycerol-plasticized starch and polypropylene, compatibilized using maleated polypropylene. TEM indicates that MMT is well dispersed in the PLS phase of the blends, while Cloisite 30B is located both within the PLS phase as well as at the interface between PLS and PP. At high PLS content, the addition of clay increased the tensile strength and tensile modulus by an order of magnitude, while reducing the ultimate elongation only slightly. Such improvements are attributable to both the addition of clay as a reinforcing component, as well as to the change in the two phase morphology due to addition of clay.     

Decomposition of benzo (a) pyrene deposited on glass fiber filters and exposed to sunlight

Measurements of Benzo (a) Pyrene deposited on glass fiber filters exposed to solar radiation indicate a time dependent exponential decrease. Possible impl$\text{i}$ cations of this phenomenon in the measurements of B(a)P in particulate samples are discussed.     

Sorption and desorption behavior of chloroanilines and chlorophenols on montmorillonite and kaolinite

The bioavailability of pollutants, pesticides and/or their degradation products in soil depends on the strength of their sorption by the different soil components, particularly by the clay minerals. This study reports the sorption-desorption behavior of the environmentally hazardous industrial pollutants and certain pesticides degradation products, 3-chloroaniline, 3,4-dichloroaniline, 2,4,6-trichloroaniline, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on the reference clays kaolinite KGa-1 and Na-montmorillonite SWy-l. In batch studies, 2.0 g of clay were equilibrated with 100.0 mL solutions of each chemical at concentrations ranging from 10.0 to 200.0 mg/L. The uptake of the compounds was deduced from the results of HPLC-UV-Vis analysis. The lipophilic species were best retained by both clay materials. The most lipophilic chemical used in the study, 2,4,6-trichloroaniline, was also the most strongly retained, with sorption of up to 8 mg/g. In desorption experiments, which also relied on HPLC-UV-Vis technique, 2,4,6-trichloroaniline was the least desorbed from montmorillonite. However, on kaolinite all of the compounds under study were irreversibly retained. The experimental data have been modelled according to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. A hypothesis is proposed concerning the sorption mechanism and potential applications of the findings in remediation strategies have been suggested.     

Treatment of log yard run-off by irrigation of grass and willows

Log yard run-off is a potential environmental risk, among other things because it creates an oxygen deficiency in receiving watercourses. This study was conducted to investigate the purification efficiency of soil-plant systems with couchgrass (Elymus repens) and willows (Salix sp.) when intensively irrigated with run-off from an open sprinkling system at a Norway spruce (Picea abies) log yard. The purification efficiency was determined both at the field scale (couchgrass) and in 68-L lysimeters (couchgrass and willows). Groundwater in the field and drainage water from the lysimeters were analysed for Total Organic Carbon (TOC), distillable phenols, total P, and total N. Retention of TOC, phenols and P occurred but no difference between couchgrass and willows was observed. The system had better purification capacity at the field scale than in the lysimeters.     

Tradescantia micronucleus test indicates genotoxic potential of traffic emissions in European cities

Urban atmospheres contain complex mixtures of air pollutants including mutagenic and carcinogenic substances such as benzene, diesel soot, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the frame of a European network for the assessment of air quality by the use of bioindicator plants, the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) test was applied to examine the genotoxicity of urban air pollution. Cuttings of Tradescantia clone #4430 were exposed to ambient air at 65 monitoring sites in 10 conurbations employing a standardised methodology. The tests revealed an elevated genotoxic potential mainly at those urban sites which were exposed to severe car traffic emissions. This bioassay proved to be a suitable tool to detect local 'hot spots' of mutagenic air pollution in urban areas. For its use in routine monitoring programmes, however, further standardisation of cultivation and exposure techniques is recommended in order to reduce the variability of results due to varying environmental conditions.