This paper proposes an extraction procedure for the speciation analysis of inorganic antimony in sediment samples using slurry sampling and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. The optimization step of extraction of the species was performed employing a full two-level factorial design (2³) and a Box-Behnken matrix where the studied factors in both experiments were: extraction temperature, ultrasonic radiation time, and hydrochloric acid concentration. Using the optimized conditions, antimony species can be extracted in closed system using a 6.0 M hydrochloric acid solution at temperature of 70 °C and an ultrasonic radiation time of 20 min. The determination of antimony is performed in presence of 2.0 M hydrochloric acid solution using HG AAS by external calibration technique with limits of detection and quantification of 5.6 and 19.0 ng L⁻¹ and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation of 5.6 % for an antimony solution with concentration of 6.0 μg L⁻¹. The accuracy of the method was confirmed by analysis of two certified reference materials of sediments. For a sample mass of sediment of 0.20 g, the limits of detection and quantification obtained were 0.70 and 2.34 ng g⁻¹, respectively. During speciation analysis, antimony(III) is determined in presence of citrate, while total antimony is quantified after reduction of antimony(V) to antimony(III) using potassium iodide and ascorbic acid. The method was applied for analysis of six sediment samples collected in São Paulo Estuary (Bahia State, Brazil). The antimony contents obtained varied from 45.3 to 89.1 ng g⁻¹ for total antimony and of 17.7 to 31.4 ng g⁻¹ for antimony(III). These values are agreeing with other data reported by the literature for this element in uncontaminated sediment samples.

This study examined a single underground coal mine and investigated two aspects of its operation: the disposal of the mine waste through a discharge to a nearby river and the impact of subsidence from an underground longwall to a small waterway above. Water quality of the two waterways was monitored over a 2-year period with a monthly investigation over a 6-month period, which included collection of stream macroinvertebrates. Both mine activities modified surface water geochemistry and macroinvertebrate communities. Mean electrical conductivity (EC) increased in surface waters below the mine discharge, rising 4.8 times from (186 μS/cm) upstream to 1078 μS/cm below the waste inflow. Mean EC increased in a small stream that was disturbed by subsidence from longwall mining, rising 3.8 times from (247 μS/cm) upstream to 1195 μS/cm below. The mineral constituents of the increased salinities were different. The coal mine wastewater discharge was enriched with sodium and bicarbonate ions compared to sodium and chloride ions in the subsidence affected creek. Both the waste discharge and the subsidence caused increases in the concentrations of zinc by about four times and nickel by 20 to 30 times the background levels. The subsidence reduced dissolved oxygen to ecologically stressful levels and increased iron and manganese concentrations by about 20 times the background levels. Two of the key changes in stream ecosystems were a reduction in the proportion of mayfly larvae downstream of the mine waste discharge and mosquito larvae dominating (60–70 % of total abundance) the invertebrate community in the subsidence affected creek.

The potential of agricultural waste materials for the removal bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solution was investigated. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC) used mainly in the plastic manufacturing industry. It may be hazardous to humans and animals because of its estrogenic activity. Agricultural wastes are sustainable adsorbents because of their low cost and availability. Hence, this study investigated the removal of BPA from water by adsorption onto treated coir pith, coconut shell and durian peel. The adsorption of BPA from water onto adsorbent was evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The effects of morphology, functional groups, and surface area on adsorption before and after pretreatment with sulfuric acid and reaction were investigated, and it was found that the treated adsorbent were able to remove BPA. Carbonyl and hydroxyl groups had appear in large number in FTIR analysis. The present study indicates that coir pith had removed 72 % of BPA with adsorption capacity of 4.308 mg/g for 24 h, followed by durian peel (70 %, 4.178 mg/g) and coconut shell (69 %, 4.159 mg/g). The results proved that these modified phyto-waste were promising materials as alternative adsorbent for the removal of BPA from aqueous solution.

Nikola Tesla B power plant (TENT-B), located on the Sava River in Obrenovac, 52 km west from the Serbian’s capital, Belgrade, is the second largest coal-fired power plant in the country, consisting of two blocks of 620 MW each. Samples of fresh coal ash obtained by coal combustion in TENT-B, as well as coal ash samples from the surface and 1-m depth of active, currently filled, and passive, previously filled and not currently used, cassettes, were taken from the coal ash dump. Ultrasonic extracts of the samples were analyzed using gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC/MSD) in order to identify and quantify 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Two PAH extraction mechanisms during coal ash dumping and storage processes are discussed and significant differences between them were established. PAH concentrations in the ash samples were compared statistically. Correlations between samples and sampling points were established, and leaching potential of samples was examined. Concentrations of PAHs can be reduced in coal ash sediments by environmental influences only after long time periods, and PAHs with two six-membered rings pose danger to underground waters, while PAHs with three rings pose danger to soil sediments.

Grass from municipal roadside verges is a potential yet largely unused resource for bioenergy recovery, which is mainly due to its unknown elemental composition. Therefore, we measured the concentration of 16 elements (Ca, K, Mg, N, Na, P, S, Al, Cd, Cl, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Si and Zn) in a material from the city of Kassel harvested in different management intensities. The element concentrations were mainly close to reference values of agricultural or nature conservation grassland and usually within the range of literature data. Concentrations of most elements, including heavy metals, were below limiting values. Only N and Cl concentrations in the raw material exceeded the limiting values for combustion, but washing and dewatering of the biomass with the “integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass” technique resulted in concentrations in the press cake well below the limiting values. Considering the element concentrations of grass from urban roadside verges, utilisation for energy recovery may be possible, provided an appropriate technology is applied.

Biochar is an organic carbon (OC) and plant nutrient-rich substance that may be an ideal amendment for bolstering soil organic matter and nutrient contents. Two biochars were produced by pyrolysis at 350 °C from pine chips (Pinus taeda) and swine manure solids (Sus scrofa domesticus). The biochar total elemental composition was quantified using inductively coupled plasma spectrometer and their surface chemical composition examined using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The biochars were mixed into triplicate pots containing Lauderhill muck (Euic, hyperthermic Lithic Haplosaprist) at 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 % (dry mass). Four simulated water infiltration events were conducted during the 124-day incubation to assess the potential alteration in the leaching potential of soluble soil nutrients. At termination, the muck’s fertility characteristics were assessed, and dissolved cations were measured in water leachates. Neither biochars significantly increased the muck’s OC contents. Swine manure biochar contained higher K, Mg, Na, and P concentrations, and these differences were observable in SEM and EDS as differing amounts of surface-precipitated Mg and K salts. Correspondingly, swine manure biochar at all three applications rates significantly increased Mehlich 1-s K, P, Mg, and Na concentrations. Pine chip biochar only improved the Mehlich 1-extractable K concentration but did reduce soluble P concentrations. Water leachates from swine manure biochar treated wetland soil contained significantly higher soluble P concentrations that could create water quality issue in downstream ecosystems.

Macroscopic (germination and root growth) and microscopic (mitotic index, chromosome, and nuclear aberrations) analyses have been used to determine the toxicity of environmental pollutants. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of mutation and their effects, molecular markers offer a key perspective, as they measure the direct effects of DNA mutagenic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of the fungicides difenoconazole (DZ) and tebuconazole (TZ) on Allium cepa. A reduction was observed in the germination, root growth, and mitotic index at higher concentrations of DZ and TZ, compared to the negative control. In addition, high incidence of chromosome and nuclear aberrations was detected in treated roots. This demonstrates the genotoxic, cytotoxic, and phytotoxic effects of DZ and TZ on the root tips of A. cepa. Moreover, the molecular results indicate a change in the amplification profiles of the simple sequence repeats (SSR) and intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) obtained from A. cepa after exposure to the tested compounds. Loss and gain of bands increased dose-dependently. Further, the grouping methods distinguished the higher concentrations from the negative control. The ISSR and SSR analyses proved to be efficient tools for evaluating DNA alterations caused by DZ and TZ. In association with macroscopic and microscopic analyses, they constitute an informative approach for environmental mutagen studies.

Biosorption is a low-cost green technology for water pollution decontamination. Recently, new adsorbent materials (raw or modified) were synthesized and tested in a wide variety of different pollutants. Among them, researchers pay attention on an alternative use of composts. The major use of composts is as soil amendments to improve the fertility of soils. For the first time in literature, the present review article gathers information about the applicability of compost materials as biosorbents in batch modes. For this purpose, equilibrium modeling and isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were discussed in details. Moreover, many parameters such as temperature, pH, and contact time were also analyzed. The main pollutants studied in this work are dyes and heavy metals either in single- or multi-component systems.

This study investigates the impacts on the Australian native eastern long-necked turtle Chelodina longicollis of wetland waters derived from (1) precipitation and groundwater flow and wetlands also supplemented with (2) irrigation runoff from agricultural lands, (3) tertiary-treated sewage effluent and (4) harvested stormwater. Influences of water quality parameters on population attributes of the turtle population are considered. A total of 951 C. longicollis were captured in a mark-recapture study over 8 months. Overall, a female sex ratio bias was observed, and a larger number of smaller turtles were found in wetlands not contaminated by recycled tertiary-treated effluent. Dissolved oxygen, temperature, surface area and emergent vegetation had the greatest impact on turtle population structure. The lower the dissolved oxygen, the smaller the surface area of the wetland, and the higher the percentage of emergent vegetation, the greater the number of juveniles present. Water quality parameters which would be detrimental to fish predators appear to provide a ‘safe haven’ for juvenile turtles at the most vulnerable life stage of turtles.

Because of its long half-life, endosulfan can persist for a long time in the environment, especially in soil. However, little is known about its effect on fungi, which is an important part of microorganisms in soil. In this study, agricultural soil treated with endosulfan (0.1 and 1.0 mg kg⁻¹) in a laboratory experiment was analyzed over 42 days. The effect of endosulfan on bacterial and fungal quantity and community structure were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results revealed that endosulfan was removed more than 50 % after 42 days, and its removal fitted single first-order kinetics. The exposure to endosulfan caused a short-lived inhibition on fungal and bacterial quantity, but no effect was observed in both treatments after 42 days. Furthermore, this inhibition was greater in higher endosulfan-treated soil. A significant change in bacterial community structure was found in both treatments after endosulfan application, while the change of fungal community structure was observed only in 1 mg kg⁻¹endosulfan treatment.