Minimization of the formation of disinfection by-products

The drinking water industry is required to minimize DBPs levels while ensuring adequate disinfection. In this study, efficient and appropriate treatment scheme for the reduction of disinfection by-product (DBPs) formation in drinking water containing natural organic matter has been established. This was carried out by the investigation of different treatment schemes consisting of enhanced coagulation, sedimentation, disinfection by using chlorine dioxide/ozone, filtration by sand filter, or granular activated carbon (GAC). Bench scale treatment schemes were applied on actual samples from different selected sites to identify the best conditions for the treatment of water. Samples were collected from effluent of each step in the treatment train in order to analyze pH, UV absorbance at 254 nm (UVA₂₅₄), specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA₂₅₄), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs). The obtained results indicated that using pre-ozonation/enhanced coagulation/activated carbon filtration treatment train appears to be the most effective method for reducing DBPs precursors in drinking water treatment.     

Residues and dissipation kinetic of abamectin,chlorfenapyr and pyridaben acaricides in green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under field conditions using QuEChERS method and HPLC

Abstract

The current study estimated the dissipation rates of abamectin, chlorfenapyr and pyridaben acaricides in pods of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under field conditions in Egypt. Pesticides were extracted and cleaned-up by QuEChERS method and were analyzed by HPLC. The dissipation of these acaricides followed the first order kinetics model with half-life (t_1/2) values 1.00, 3.50 and 1.50?days for abamectin, chlorfenapyr and pyridaben, respectively. The lowest residues, at different time intervals of field application rate of each pesticide, were observed with abamectin followed by pyridaben and then chlorfenapyr. Pre-harvest intervals (PHIs) were 10.00, 13.50 and 6.00?days for abamectin, chlorfenapyr and pyridaben, respectively and were below the established European maximum residue limits (EU MRLs) 10–14, 14–21 and 7–10?days after application, respectively. If the fresh pods will be consumed after harvest, it is expected that the presence of these pesticides in the food will have a negative impact on human health. Therefore, the elimination of the residues of these harmful pesticides must be carried out.     

Cadmium content of wheat grain from a long-term field experiment with sewage sludge

Grain Cd concentrations were determined in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Soissons, Brigadier, and Hereward grown in 1994,1996, and 1999, respectively, in soils of a long-term field experiment to which sewage sludges contaminated with Zn, Cu, Ni, or Cr had previously been added. Soil pore water soluble Cd and free Cd2+ increased linearly with increasing total soil Cd (R2=0.82 and 0.84, respectively; P<0.001). Similarly, soil pore water free Cd2+ increased linearly with increasing soil pore water soluble Cd (R2=0.98; P<0.001). There was no evidence of a plateau in soil pore water Cd concentrations with increasing soil Cd concentrations. Grain Cd concentrations were significantly correlated with total soil Cd (P<0.001), soil pore water Cd (P<0.001), and free Cd2+ (P<0.001). A slight curvilinear relationship between grain Cd and soil Cd was apparent, but there was no plateau, even at the maximum soil Cd concentration of about 2.7 mg kg(-1). The relationship between soil pore water Cd and grain Cd was linear for all three cultivars. The slopes were in the order 1994 > 1996 > 1999, with more Cd being taken up into the grain by Soissons grown in 1994, and least by Hereward grown in 1999. For Soissons, Cd concentration in the grain greater than the EU limit (0.24 mg kg(-1) dry wt.) occurred at soil Cd less than the current UK limit of 3 mg kg(-1) for soils receiving sewage sludge. In contrast, for Brigadier and Hereward, grain Cd concentrations were near to and less than the EU limit, respectively, at soil Cd concentrations of 3 mg kg(-1).     

Predation of a sand-dwelling mysid crustacean Gastrosaccus sanctus by plover birds (Charadriidae)

The plovers Charadrius hiaticula and C. alexandrinus feed on the mysid shrimp Gastrosaccus sanctus (van Beneden, 1861). They hunt at random along the sandy seashore, on the sites of the densest mysid population, regardless of the size of the mysids.     

Assessment of El-Salaam underground water for poultry use

Water quality for 13 wells in El-Salaam, in a new city near Cairo, has been investigated. Those wells were dug specifically to provide water for a company specializing in broiler poultry production. The water was analyzed for the following bacteriological parameters: total bacterial counts (10²–10⁴), total coliforms (<1?10²), fecal coliforms (<1?10²) fecal streptococci (<1?10³), aerobic spore formers (10²–10⁴) and total counts for Clostridia (<1?10³) per 100 mL. Chemical parameters such as pH, sulphate, alkalinity, hardness, and pesticides indicate that the water is unacceptable for poultry production. This study illustrates the need for monitoring and maintaining the integrity of groundwater sources at El-Salaam.     

Development and validation of HPLC methods for analysis of chlorantraniliprole insecticide in technical and commercial formulations

Effective, selective, precise and accurate liquid chromatographic analytical methods for the analysis of a novel chlorantraniliprole insecticide in technical and formulation (coragen, 20% SC) have been optimized and validated. Eight methods were designed based on different mobile phases, temperature and two HPLC columns. The mobile phase consists of two mixtures (acetonitrile:water, 70:30 and methanol:water, 70:30) with 25 or 40ºC. HPLC analysis of chlorantraniliprole was carried out at a wavelength of 260 nm, with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The calibration curves showed a good linear relationship (R² ? 0.99) in the injected quantities ranged from 0.0125 to 1.00 μg. Limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 3.94 to 14.56 ng and from 5.95 to 12.93 ng using the analytical methods I to IV by MicroPack CN-10 and V-VIII by ZORBAX Eclips Plus C18 columns, respectively, based on SDslope values. ZORBAX Eclips Plus C18 column with method VI was the best one (R² = 1.00 and RSD = 0.30), short retention time (4.936 min), high theoretical plates per column (65457.15) compared to others and LOD = 6.49 ng. The accuracy of the best method was demonstrated by recovery rates of 83.04% to 98.50% for grape samples supplemented with 5, 10 and 50 mg chlorantraniliprole/kg.     

Cobalt separation from waste mobile phone batteries using selective precipitation and chelating resin

Separation of cobalt from mixed-waste mobile phone batteries containing LiCoO₂ cathodic active material was investigated using selective precipitation and chelating resin. Cobalt was recovered from the active powder materials containing 47 % Co oxide together with Mn, Cu, Li, Al, Fe, and Ni oxides. The metal ions were leached sufficiently using 4 M HCl. The metal ions detected spectrophotometrically were removed from the leaching solution by selective precipitation at pH 5.5, with cobalt loss of 27.5 %. Conditions for achieving a recovery of Co in the filtrate by chelating resin were determined experimentally by varying the pH and time of the reaction, as well as the initial resin-to-liquid ratio. The cobalt was efficiently determined by absorption spectrometry at λ _max 510 nm. Chelating polyamidoxime resin was synthesized by polymerization of acrylonitrile and followed by amidoximation reaction. Physically cross-linked gel of polyacrylonitrile was made by a cooling technique.     

Soil solid-phase controls lead activity in soil solution

Lead pollution of the environment is synonymous with civilization. It has no known biological function, and is naturally present in soil, but its presence in food crops is deemed undesirable. The concern regarding Pb is mostly due to chronic human and animal health effects, rather then phytotoxicity. However, not much is known about the chemistry and speciation of Pb in soils. We determined the activity of Pb2+, in near neutral and alkaline soils, representative of alluvial, desertic and calcareous soils of Egypt, using the competitive chelation method. Lead activity ranged from 10(-6.73) to 10(-4.83) M, and was negatively correlated with soil and soil solution pH (R2 = -0.92, P < 0.01 and R2 = -0.89, P < 0.01, respectively). It could be predicted in soil solution from the equation: log(Pb2+) = 9.9 - 2pH. A solubility diagram for the various Pb minerals found in soil was constructed using published thermodynamic data obtained from the literature, and our measured Pb2+ activities compared with this information. The measured Pb2+ activities were undersaturated with regard to the solubility of PbSiO3 in equilibrium with SiO2 (soil). However, they were supersaturated with regard to the solubilities of the Pb carbonate minerals PbCO3 (cerussite) and Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2 and hydroxide Pb(OH)2. They were also supersaturated with regard to the solubilities of the Pb phosphate minerals Pb3(PO4)2, Pb5(PO4)3OH, and Pb4O(PO4)2 in equilibrium with tricalcium phosphate and CaCO3. The activity of Pb2+ was not regulated by any mineral of known solubility in our soils, but possibly by a mixture of Pb carbonate and phosphate minerals.     

Amorphous oxides of manganese as new sorbents of strontium ions

Samples with the best adsorption properties are selected as a result of investigations conducted on synthesis of manganese-dioxide-based materials and study of their physicochemical properties. Materials were selected on the basis of their low cost and the simplicity of their production technology. In the laboratory the synthesis and analyses of materials was carried out for selected samples. The sorption of a series of elements is studied for a more detailed investigation of materials obtained. The results obtained will promote the synthesis of materials with improved adsorption properties with the aim of their application for purification of water from strontium. It is shown that the most promising way for amendment of manganese oxide is modification of this material using acid-resistant oxides. These oxides are also less expensive than existing sorbents for strontium.