Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles coated zeolite for the adsorption of pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous solution using batch and column studies

The contamination of fresh water with pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) has risen during the last few years. The adsorption of some PPCPs namely, Diclofenac-Na, Naproxen, Gemfibrozil and Ibuprofen from aqueous solution has been studied, magnetic nanoparticles coated zeolite (MNCZ) has been used as the adsorbent. Batch adsorption experiment was conducted to study the influences of different adsorption parameters such as contact time, solution pH and PPCPs concentrations in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The removal was favored at low pH values. Thus, as pH turns from acidic to basic conditions these compounds were less efficiently removed. The initial concentration does not appear to exert a noticeable effect on the removal efficiency of the studied PPCPs at low concentrations, but it showed less removal efficiency during high concentration of PPCPs especially for Ibuprofen. The removal of Diclofenac-Na was independent on time, while the contact time was of significant effect on the adsorption of Naproxen, Gemfibrozil and Ibuprofen even though these compounds were removed up to 95% during 10 min using MNCZ. From the isotherm adsorption study, the adsorption of PPCPs studied on MNCZ was best fitted with Freundlich isotherm equation. Pseudo-second order model providing the best fit model with the experimental data. Column adsorption study was conducted to compare the removal efficiency of MNCZ with other processes used at drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), MNCZ showed high removal efficiency (>99%) than other used processes at DWTPs.     

Techno-economic assessment of municipal solid waste management in Jordan

Mismanagement of solid waste leads to public health risks, adverse environmental impacts and other socio-economic problems. This is obvious in many developing countries around the world. Currently, several countries have realized that the way they manage their solid wastes does not satisfy the objectives of sustainable development. Therefore, these countries, including Jordan, which forms the case study presented here, have decided to move away from traditional solid waste management (SWM) options to more integrated solid waste management approaches. Unfortunately, in many developing countries like Jordan, the lack of adequate resources to implement the necessary changes is posing a serious obstacle. The present paper discusses the various practices and challenges of solid waste management in Jordan from both a technical and economic perspective. An overview of the current practices and their environmental implications in three major cities of the country, which generate more than 70% of the country's solid waste, is presented. Recent literature on solid waste management in Jordan has been reviewed; and data on the total amount of municipal solid waste generated, compositional variations over the last two decades, and future projections are presented. The necessity, importance and needs of solid waste recovery and reuse are identified. The review of the legal frameworks indicated that there is a need for detailed and clear regulations dealing specifically with solid waste. The service cost analysis revealed that none of the municipalities in Jordan sufficiently recover the cost of the services, with more than 50% being subsidized from the municipalities' budgets. The allocation of the available resources was analyzed and service performance indicators assessed. Factors that should be taken into consideration when making the decision to move from a traditional SWM approach to a more integrated approach are highlighted and suggestions for a more smooth transition are recommended.     

Petroleum contaminated soil in Oman: Evaluation of bioremediation treatment and potential for reuse in hot asphalt mix concrete

This paper presents a study that aims at evaluating the leaching characteristics of petroleum contaminated soils as well as their application in hot mix asphalt concrete. Soil samples are environmentally characterized in terms of their total heavy metals and hydrocarbon compounds and leachability. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) present in the PCS before and after treatment was determined to be 6.8% and 5.3% by dry weight, indicating a reduction of 1% in the TPH of PCS due to the current treatment employed. Results of the total heavy metal analysis on soils indicate that the concentrations of heavy metals are lower when extraction of the soil samples is carried out using hexane in comparison to TCE. The results show that the clean soils present in the vicinity of contaminated sites contain heavy metals in the following decreasing order: nickel (Ni), followed by chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and vanadium (V). The current treatment practice employed for remediation of the contaminated soil reduces the concentrations of nickel and chromium, but increases the concentrations of all remaining heavy metals.     

Optimum Methods of Inactivation of Strongyloides stercoralis Larvae from Reclaimed Wastewater

Strongyloidiasis presents a major health hazard when reusing wastewater. Albendazol with a concentration of 4 mg/l, a contact time of 45 min, pH 1.2 and pH 10.2, killed the larva. The larva was also killed with a 0.03% concentration of iodine and a detention time of 30 min or a 0.04% concentration of iodine and a contact time of 10 min. The required detention time to inactivate larva in water was found to be 17 days. The minimum revealed residual chlorine to kill the larvae was 4 mg/l with 120 min of detention time, and a minimum contact time was found to be 80 min with a residual of 23 mg/l. Many methods are available to inactivate the Strongyloides stercoralis, which could be acids, alkaline chemicals, larvicidal chemicals, super chlorination, or just detention time. The best method must be determined according to the prevailing specific environmental site and the feasibility of the selected method(s).     

Poly(Acrylic Acid) Grafted Sodium Alginate Di-Block Hydrogels as Efficient Biosorbents; Structure-Property Relevance

Naturally-based poly(acrylic acid) grafted sodium alginate di-block hydrogels were investigated as high efficiency biosorbents for copper(II) ion. The grafted di-block hydrogel was characterized using FTIR, TGA and SEM techniques. Blank and immobilized algal biosorbent beads formed via 2.0% (w/w) calcium ions were also investigated. Batch adsorption experiments revealed optimal pH dependence of copper(II) ion biosorption at pH 5.5 with high efficient copper(II) ion uptake of 98.5 mg/g. The dynamics studies showed that the high efficiency copper(II) ion biosorption followed pseudo-second order kinetics with significant contribution of intraparticle diffusion mechanism. The equilibrium data fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamics parameters for copper(II) biosorption on blank and immobilized algal beads depicted the spontaneous nature of the biosorption process. Such high efficiency, feasibility, simplicity, and low cost properties adapt the di-block biosorbent to be the next generation promising biosorbents for water decontamination and to help in the recovery of the missing ecologic harmony.     

Application of polyaniline-based adsorbents for dye removal from water and wastewater—a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Several industries release varying concentration of dye-laden effluent with substantial negative consequences for any receiving environmental...     

Stochastic modeling and optimization of medical waste collection in Northern Jordan

Jordan has witnessed a rapid increase in healthcare facilities during the last two decades. As a consequence, the amount of generated medical waste have been increased rapidly and a proper management system is indeed needed to eliminate the environmental and health hazards resulted from such waste. An approved medical waste treatment facility is the incinerator located at the northern region of Jordan which serves the four northern governorates. Two trucks are used to pickup waste from the hospitals in these governorates to be treated at the incinerator. In this paper, a route scheduling model is proposed to minimize the total travel distance which in turn minimizes transportation cost and reduces emissions. The proposed model takes into account the capacity of trucks, number of visits per week, timing between visits along with the service level required by the hospitals. An optimal routing schedule was found and verified. Compared to current routing schedule, a saving of 102 km per week was achieved.