Recent evidence suggests that microplastic pollution is widespread in every oceanic basin; however, there is limited data available for the tropical South Atlantic Ocean. The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution, density and characteristics of plastic particles in plankton samples collected in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean. Neustonic tows (N = 160) were conducted near three important insular environments (Fernando de Noronha, Abrolhos and Trindade), and the presence of microplastics in the ocean surface of these areas was confirmed for the first time. The collected microplastic particles included hard plastic fragments, plastic films, paint chips and fibres and strands, which were classified as a secondary source of microplastics. The stock of plastic originates from both land-based and marine-based sources. This type of marine pollution in the tropical Atlantic Ocean is a potential threat to important ecological species.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the recirculation rate on the efficiency of a 1,000-L pilot anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (ASBBR) treating effluent from a small dairy plant over a long-term period (570 days). Three operational conditions were studied, in which recirculation rates were varied, resulting in upflow velocities of 0.2, 3.8, and 6.4 m h⁻¹and the cycle time of 48 h. The biomass was immobilized on plastic supports containing polyurethane foam. The organic loading rate varied according to the operations occurring in the dairy plant. After system stability had been verified, temporal profiles of the substrate and metabolite concentrations were obtained, allowing kinetic parameter inference. Sludge samples from the inoculum and from the reactor were analyzed through microscopic examination, molecular biology analyses, and specific methanogenic activity assays. The average efficiencies of organic matter removal were 82 ± 11, 84 ± 9, and 87 ± 9 % at velocities of 0.2, 3.8, and 6.4 m h⁻¹, respectively. Microscopic examinations indicated that the fluorescent microorganisms decreased throughout the experiment, and they were not detected in the last condition. Homoacetogenesis was inferred as a possible pathway for H₂removal and for maintenance of the methanogenic process. Specific methanogenic activity increased throughout the monitoring period. It was possible to conclude that the ASBBR was efficient, robust, and reliable in treating dairy effluents under the conditions used.

The coffee agro-industry generates a large volume of wastewater that is notable for its high organic strength as well as its color content. Due to the seasonal nature of the harvest (3–4 months per year), this particular industrial waste needs a treatment method that is both reliable and fast (in terms of start-up time). As part of investigating a system capable of treating a coffee wastewater, this research evaluated four electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. The processes were anodic oxidation (AO), anodic oxidation with electrogenerated H₂O₂(AO-H₂O₂), electro-Fenton (EF), and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF). Experimental conditions were as follows: 40 mA cm⁻²current density (all EAOPs), 0.3 mmol Fe²⁺L⁻¹(Fenton systems), 300 mL air min⁻¹(AO-H₂O₂, EF, PEF), and 500 μW cm⁻²UV irradiation (photo-Fenton systems). The performance of the four EAOP treatment methods (in terms of color and organic carbon removal) was compared against two conventional chemical oxidation methods, namely, Fenton and photo-Fenton. The research indicated that the four EAOPs were better at removing color (89–93 %) and total organic carbon (TOC) (73–84 %) than the respective chemical Fenton (58 and 4.8 %) and photo-Fenton (61 and 7 %) methods. The trend in performance was as follows: AO-H₂O₂ > AO > PEF ≈ EF. It appeared that the ferrous iron reagent formed a dark-colored complex with some coffee components, diminishing the effect of Fenton reactions. In addition, the dark color of the wastewater limited the effect of light in the UV-Fenton processes. Analysis showed that acceptable levels of Fe²⁺(0.3 mmol L⁻¹) and energy (0.082–0.098 kWh g⁻¹TOC) were required by the EAOPs after 4-h treatment time. In conclusion, the use of electrochemical methods (equipped with BDD electrodes) seems a promising method for the effective treatment of coffee wastewaters.

A granular media synthesized using iron oxide nanoparticle-coated alumina (IONA) has been demonstrated as an effective solid catalyst in the heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA). TEM analysis showed that iron oxide nanoparticles with an average size of 5–20 nm were well-coated onto an alumina surface. It was determined that the iron oxide nanoparticle coating increased the specific surface area by 54 times and the functional group density by 1.5 times. During catalytic ozonation at acidic pH levels, it was clearly observed that IONA increased the degradation of pCBA (98 %) through effective hydroxyl radical formation compared to bare alumina (9 %) under continuous ozonation processes. In comparing the Rcₜvalue, which represents the ratio of ozone exposure to hydroxyl radical exposure, the Rcₜof IONA was approximately four times higher than for bare alumina. In addition, IONA showed good stability for catalytic ozonation of pCBA in the reusability tests.

Iron hydroxide supported onto porous diatomite (D-Fe) is a low-cost material with potential to remove arsenic from contaminated water due to its affinity for the arsenate ion. This affinity was tested under varying conditions of pH, contact time, iron content in D-Fe and the presence of competitive ions, silicate and phosphate. Batch and column experiments were conducted to derive adsorption isotherms and breakthrough behaviours (50 μg L⁻¹) for an initial concentration of 1,000 μg L⁻¹. Maximum capacity at pH 4 and 17 % iron was 18.12–40.82 mg of arsenic/g of D-Fe and at pH 4 and 10 % iron was 18.48–29.07 mg of arsenic/g of D-Fe. Adsorption decreased in the presence of phosphate and silicate ions. The difference in column adsorption behaviour between 10 % and 17 % iron was very pronounced, outweighing the impact of all other measured parameters. There was insufficient evidence of a correlation between iron content and arsenic content in isotherm experiments, suggesting that ion exchange is a negligible process occurring in arsenate adsorption using D-Fe nor is there co-precipitation of arsenate by rising iron content of the solute above saturation.

The variability of levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and a human-associated genetic marker (HF183) during wet and dry weather conditions was investigated at two urban coastal watersheds in Southern California: Santa Monica Canyon channel (SMC) and Ventura Harbor, Keys, and Marina. Seventy-eight to 86 % of the samples collected from SMC sites exceeded standard water quality standards for FIB (n = 59 to 76). At SMC, HF183 was present in 58 % of the samples (n = 78) and was detected at least once at every sample site. No individual site at SMC appeared as a hotspot for the measured indicators, pointing to a likely chronic issue stemming from urban runoff in wet and dry weather. In Ventura, the Arundell Barranca, which drains into Ventura Harbor and Marina, was a source of FIB, and HF183 was most frequently detected off of a dock in the Marina. Rainfall significantly increased FIB levels at both SMC and Ventura; only at Ventura did HF183 detection increase with wet weather. Sample locations that were high in FIB were geographically distinct from the sites that were high in HF183 in Ventura, which supports the importance of measuring host-associated parameters along with FIB in chronically impaired watersheds to guide water quality managers in pollution remediation efforts.

Potassium silicate drilling fluid (PSDF) is a relatively new type of drilling waste generated by the oil and gas industry. PSDF effects on soil, vegetation, and ground water must be determined before its land disposal and use in reclamation can be regulated. A laboratory column leachate study was conducted to quantify the response of select soil and leachate properties to PSDF at various depths in soil column profiles. A spent PSDF was applied to two soils (sand and loam textures) at four rates (20, 40, 60, 120 m³ ha⁻¹) with two application methods (incorporated, sprayed). Changes to soil and leachate properties were at values that would not be detrimental to most plant species when PSDF was applied at ≤60 m³ ha⁻¹. Applying PSDF at 120 m³ ha⁻¹had significant effects on soil properties and leachate quality. Hydraulic conductivity and field capacity were significantly reduced, and soil available potassium and sulfate concentrations, pH, and salinity increased with PSDF. Incorporated PSDF in the upper 10 cm of soil accelerated PSDF element transport through soil columns to leachate and increased organic carbon and salinity in leachate. PSDF application rate significantly reduced soil field capacity, available nitrogen, and increased salinity at the highest rates in loam soil, suggesting a threshold beyond which conditions will not be suitable for land spraying PSDF. This research demonstrates that PSDF has potential to improve soil short term water availability, macronutrient potassium and sulfur for disposal on cultivated and uncultivated lands. This potential should be field tested.

The extensive use of copper-bearing fungicides in vineyards is responsible for the accumulation of copper (Cu) in soils. Grass species able to accumulate Cu could be cultivated in the vineyard inter-rows for copper phytoextraction. In this study, the capacity of Festuca rubra cv Merlin and Sinapis alba to tolerate and accumulate copper (Cu) was first investigated in a hydroponic system without the interference of soil chemical–physical properties. After the amendment of Cu (5 or 10 mg Cu l⁻¹) to nutrient solution, shoot Cu concentration in F. rubra increased up to 108.63 mg Cu kg⁻¹DW, more than three times higher than in S. alba (31.56 mg Cu kg⁻¹DW). The relationship between Cu concentration in plants and external Cu was dose-dependent and species specific. Results obtained from the hydroponic experiment were confirmed by growing plants in pots containing soil collected from six Italian vineyards. The content of soil organic matter was crucial to enhance Cu tolerance and accumulation in the shoot tissues of both plant species. Although S. alba produced more biomass than F. rubra in most soils, F. rubra accumulated significantly more Cu (up to threefold to fourfold) in the shoots. Given these results, we recommended that F. rubra cv Merlin could be cultivated in the vineyard rows to reduce excess Cu in vineyard soils.

In order to determine the pollution sources in a suburban area and identify the main direction of their origin, PM₂.₅ was collected with samplers coupled with a wind select sensor and then subjected to Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis. In each sample, soluble ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon, levoglucosan, metals, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined. PMF results identified six main sources affecting the area: natural gas home appliances, motor vehicles, regional transport, biomass combustion, manufacturing activities, and secondary aerosol. The connection of factor temporal trends with other parameters (i.e., temperature, PM₂.₅ concentration, and photochemical processes) confirms factor attributions. PMF analysis indicated that the main source of PM₂.₅ in the area is secondary aerosol. This should be mainly due to regional contributions, owing to both the secondary nature of the source itself and the higher concentration registered in inland air masses. The motor vehicle emission source contribution is also important. This source likely has a prevalent local origin. The most toxic determined components, i.e., PAHs, Cd, Pb, and Ni, are mainly due to vehicular traffic. Even if this is not the main source in the study area, it is the one of greatest concern. The application of PMF analysis to PM₂.₅ collected with this new sampling technique made it possible to obtain more detailed results on the sources affecting the area compared to a classical PMF analysis.

This paper reports on the effect of activating agents such as the impregnation ratio of phosphoric acid (1:1–1:5) at constant activation temperature on the performance of porous activated carbon from waste residues (maize tassel). The variation in the impregnation ratio of the produced activated carbon (AC) from 1:1 to 1:5 enabled the preparation of a high surface area (1,263 m²/g) and a large pore volume (1.592 cm³/g) of AC produced from maize tassel (MT) using a convectional chemical activating agent (phosphoric acid). Impregnation ratios (IR) of the precursors were varied between 1:1 and 1:5 in which it was found that the ratio of 1:4 was optimal based on the high surface area, while 1:5 has the optimal pore volume value for the produced activated carbon.