Kinetics of the oxidation of endocrine disruptor nonylphenol by ferrate(VI)

The kinetics of the oxidation of endocrine disruptor nonylphenol (NP) by potassium ferrate(VI) (K₂FeO₄) in water as a function of pH 8.0–10.9 at 25°C is presented. The observed second-order rate constants, k _obs, decrease with an increase in pH 269–32 M^?1 s^?1. The speciation of Fe(VI) (HFeO ₄ ^? and FeO ₄ ^2? ) and NP (NP–OH and NP–O^?) species was used to explain the pH dependence of the k _obs values. At a dose of 10 mg L^?1 (50 μM) K₂FeO₄, the half-life for the removal of NP by Fe(VI), under water treatment conditions, is less than 1 min.     

High-valent iron-based oxidants to treat perfluorooctanesulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in water

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are occurring in consumer and industrial products. They have been found globally in the aquatic environment including drinking water sources and treated wastewater effluents, which has raised concern of potential human health effects because these substances may be bioaccumulative and extremely persistent. The saturated carbon–fluorine bonds of the substances make them resistant to degradation by physical, chemical, and biological processes. There is therefore a need for advanced remediation methods. Iron-based methods involving high-valent compounds are appealing to degrade these substances due to their high oxidation potentials and capability to generate environmentally friendly by-products. This article presents for the first time the oxidation ability of tetraoxy anions of iron(V) (Fe^VO₄ ^3?, Fe(V)), and iron(IV) (Fe^IVO₄ ^4?, Fe(IV)), commonly called ferrates, in neutral and alkaline solutions. Solid compounds of Fe(V) (K₃FeO₄) and Fe(IV) (Na₄FeO₄) were added directly into buffered solution containing perfluorooctansulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid at pH 7.0 and 9.0, and mixed solutions were subjected to analysis for remaining fluoro compounds after 5 days. The analysis was performed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry technique. Fe(IV) showed the highest ability to oxidize the studied contaminants; the maximum removals were 34 % for perfluorooctansulfonate and 23 % for perfluorooctanoic acid. Both Fe(V) and Fe(IV) had slightly higher tendency to oxidize contaminants at alkaline pH than at neutral pH. Results were described by invoking reactions involved in oxidation of perfluorooctansulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid by ferrates in aqueous solution. The results demonstrated potentials of Fe(V) and Fe(IV) to degrade perfluoroalkyl substances in contaminated water.     

Carbon nitride,metal nitrides,phosphides, chalcogenides,perovskites and carbides nanophotocatalysts for environmental applications

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Effective technologies and materials are needed for environmental detoxification and clean energy production. The actual photocatalytic technology is largely...     

Elimination of antibiotic resistance genes and control of horizontal transfer risk by UV-based treatment of drinking water: A mini review

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes are in water bodies. UV/chlorination method is better to remove ARGs than UV or chlorination alone. Research on UV/hydrogen peroxide to eliminate ARGs is forthcoming. UV-based photocatalytic processes are effective to degrade ARGs. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been recognized as one of the biggest public health issues of the 21st century. Both ARB and ARGs have been determined in water after treatment with conventional disinfectants. Ultraviolet (UV) technology has been seen growth in application to disinfect the water. However, UV method alone is not adequate to degrade ARGs in water. Researchers are investigating the combination of UV with other oxidants (chlorine, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and photocatalysts) to harness the high reactivity of produced reactive species (Clž·, ClOž·ž, Clž₂·ž⁻, žž·OH, and SOž₄ž·⁻€) in such processes with constituents of cell (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and its components) in order to increase the degradation efficiency of ARGs. This paper briefly reviews the current status of different UV-based treatments (UV/chlorination, UV/H₂O₂, UV/PMS, and UV-photocatalysis) to degrade ARGs and to control horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in water. The review also provides discussion on the mechanism of degradation of ARGs and application of q-PCR and gel electrophoresis to obtain insights of the fate of ARGs during UV-based treatment processes.     

Treatment of organic pollutants by homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton reaction processes

Nowadays, the water ecosystem is being polluted due to the rapid industrialization and massive use of antibiotics, fertilizers, cosmetics, paints, and other chemicals. Chemical oxidation is one of the most applied processes to degrade contaminants in water. However, chemicals are often unable to completely mineralize the pollutants. Enhanced pollutant degradation can be achieved by Fenton reaction and related processes. As a consequence, Fenton reactions have received great attention in the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater effluents. Currently, homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton processes are being investigated intensively and optimized for applications, either alone or in a combination of other processes. This review presents fundamental chemistry involved in various kinds of homogeneous Fenton reactions, which include classical Fenton, electro-Fenton, photo-Fenton, electro-Fenton, sono-electro-Fenton, and solar photoelectron-Fenton. In the homogeneous Fenton reaction process, the molar ratio of iron(II) and hydrogen peroxide, and the pH usually determine the effectiveness of removing target pollutants and subsequently their mineralization, monitored by a decrease in levels of total organic carbon or chemical oxygen demand. We present catalysts used in heterogeneous Fenton or Fenton-like reactions, such as H₂O₂–Fe³⁺(solid)/nano-zero-valent iron/immobilized iron and electro-Fenton-pyrite. Surface properties of heterogeneous catalysts generally control the efficiency to degrade pollutants. Examples of Fenton reactions are demonstrated to degrade and mineralize a wide range of water pollutants in real industrial wastewaters, such as dyes and phenols. Removal of various antibiotics by homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton reactions is exemplified.     

Mapping species distributions: A comparison of skilled naturalist and lay citizen science recording

To assess the ability of traditional biological recording schemes and lay citizen science approaches to gather data on species distributions and changes therein, we examined bumblebee records from the UK’s national repository (National Biodiversity Network) and from BeeWatch. The two recording approaches revealed similar relative abundances of bumblebee species but different geographical distributions. For the widespread common carder (Bombus pascuorum), traditional recording scheme data were patchy, both spatially and temporally, reflecting active record centre rather than species distribution. Lay citizen science records displayed more extensive geographic coverage, reflecting human population density, thus offering better opportunities to account for recording effort. For the rapidly spreading tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum), both recording approaches revealed similar distributions due to a dedicated mapping project which overcame the patchy nature of naturalist records. We recommend, where possible, complementing skilled naturalist recording with lay citizen science programmes to obtain a nation-wide capability, and stress the need for timely uploading of data to the national repository.     

Ggum-poly(Itaconic Acid) Based Superabsorbents Via Two-Step Free-Radical Aqueous Polymerization for Environmental and Antibacterial Applications

Ggum-based conducting hydrogels possessing dye removal and antibacterial property were developed by two-step free-radical aqueous polymerization method. Conductivity was introduced with polyaniline (PANI) chains incorporated within the crosslinked network of Ggum-poly(itaconic acid) superabsorbent. The material properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results showed that synthesized samples exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Synthesized samples were found to be effective in removal of toxic methylene blue (MB) dye from the waste water. The adsorption kinetics of superabsorbents has been described by using pseudo first and pseudo second order kinetics models. Furthermore, application of hydrogels to improve the water retention properties of different soils was also studied for agricultural purpose.