The utilization and disposal of alkaline waste materials such as slag and coal fly ash as cement aggregates and raw materials in cement manufacturing can pose environmental and health hazards because these waste materials usually contain elevated concentration of toxic elements. This study examined the possibility of controlling the pore water chemistry of these waste materials in order to induce the secondary mineral formation of Mg-bearing minerals as major sorbing solids for oxyanions during the utilization and disposal of alkaline wastes. The formation of Mg-bearing minerals was examined at ambient temperature and alkaline pH conditions in the Mg–Si–Al system. The interaction of Mg-bearing minerals with oxyanions using arsenate as an analog was examined during and after mineral formation. The results revealed that the generated Mg-bearing mineral phases were smectite and brucite in Mg–Si system and hydrotalcite and serpentine in Mg–Si–Al system. Moreover, hydrotalcite, serpentine, brucite, and smectite phases formed under low Si ratio showed high sorption capacity for arsenate, but only high Al content hydrotalcite and serpentine showed substantial irreversible fraction of sorbed arsenate. Hence, the generation of these kinds of hydrotalcite and serpentine phases as scavengers for oxyanions must be considered during the utilization and disposal of alkaline wastes.

There are several possible methods by which amine groups can be grafted on the surface of activated carbon (AC) to improve their capacity for CO2 adsorption. Ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine were selected as amino compounds for anchoring on the surface of an oxidized AC. Oxidation of AC was carried out by concentrated nitric acid. For each amino compound, two “in-solvent” and “solvent-free” methods with a number of grafting times were studied. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption at 77 K and proximate and ultimate analysis were used to determine physical and chemical characteristics of the samples. Temperature-programmed (TP) CO2 adsorption test from 30°C to 120°C were performed to investigate the effect of modification on CO2 capture. The modification clearly had a negative effect on the textural characteristics of the samples, so the samples showed a less CO2 uptake at lower temperatures. However, the decrease of capture capacity with increasing temperature is to somewhat softer for amine-grafted samples, so that they have a capacity comparable to the parent sample or even more than that at elevated temperatures. This property may give the new adsorbents this opportunity to be used at flue gas temperature with a higher efficiency. CO2 capture capacity per unit surface area of all the amine-modified samples, however, was significantly improved, compared to the parent sample presenting a great influence of amino groups on the CO2 capture capacity. Moreover, the used amine compounds and grafting methods were compared in terms of adsorbent characteristics and CO2 uptake curves. Cyclic adsorption–desorption tests showed a satisfactory regeneration for the modified samples.

The present study investigates the heterogenic distribution of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil on a microscale. For this purpose, we developed a method allowing for the detailed analysis of PAHs in minute amounts of soil (5 to 25 mg). A certified reference soil with a known PAH content and a diffusely polluted Danish surface soil from central Copenhagen were used in the study. In order to separate soil heterogeneity from analytical variation, we attempted to establish the least amount of soil in which homogeneous and reproducible results could be obtained for the PAHs in question. The results demonstrated that for fluoranthene, analytical results in accordance with the certified reference values could be obtained in quantities of 10 mg of soil or more. For phenanthrene and pyrene, certified reference values could be obtained in quantities of 25 mg of soil or more. Similar results were obtained with the Nyboder soil, using the reference soil for quality and quantity assurance. For quantification of all nine PAHs, a minimum of 100 mg of soil was needed for both soils. In order to obtain an expression for the degree of heterogeneity of PAHs in the soils, a subsample variation was calculated based on overall sample variation and analytical measurements variation. The results demonstrate that the PAHs in the Nyboder soil are much more heterogeneously distributed than the PAHs in the reference soil due to much larger subsample variations. Furthermore, strong relationships between different physico-chemical properties and subsample variation were found. These included molecular weight, water solubility, log octanol/water partition coefficient, and soil–water distribution coefficient of the investigated PAHs, demonstrating that the heterogeneity of PAHs in the Nyboder soil is significantly influenced by such parameters.

Filamentous fungi derived from marine environments are well known as a potential genetic resource for various biotechnological applications. Although terrestrial fungi have been reported to be highly efficient in the remediation of xenobiotic pollutants, fungi isolated from the marine environment may possess biological advantages over terrestrial fungi because of their adaptations to high salinity and pH extremes. The present study describes the production of ligninolytic enzymes under saline and non-saline conditions and the decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) dye by three basidiomycetes recovered from marine sponges (Tinctoporellus sp. CBMAI 1061, Marasmiellus sp. CBMAI 1062, and Peniophora sp. CBMAI 1063). Ligninolytic enzymes were primarily produced by these fungi in a salt-free malt extract and malt extract formulated with artificial seawater (saline condition). CuSO₄ and wheat bran were the best inducers of lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activity. RBBR was decolorized up to 100% by the three fungi, and Tinctoporellus sp. CBMAI 1061 was the most efficient. Our results revealed the biotechnological potential of marine-derived basidiomycetes for dye decolorization and the treatment of colored effluent as well as for the degradation of other organopollutants by ligninolytic enzymes in non-saline and saline conditions that resemble the marine environment.

The present work discusses the startup and operation of different biotrickling filters during the simultaneous removal of NH3, H2S, and ethyl mercaptan (EM) for odor control, focusing on (a) the impact of pH control in the stability of the nitrification processes during reactor startup and (b) the crossed effects among selected pollutants and their by-products. Two biotrickling filters were packed with poplar wood chips (R1 and R2A), while a third reactor was packed with polyurethane foam (R2B). R2A and R2B presented a pH control system, whereas R1 did not. Loads of 2–10 g N–NH3 m−3 h−1, 5–16 g S–H2S m−3 h−1, and 1–6 g EM m−3 h−1 were supplied to the bioreactors. The presence of a pH control loop in R2A and R2B proved to be crucial to avoid long startup periods and bioreactors malfunctioning due to biological activity inhibition. In addition, the impact of the presence of different concentrations of a series of N species (NH 4 + , NO 2 − , and NO 3 − ) and S species (SO 4 2− and S2−) on the performance of the two biotrickling filters was studied by increasing their load to the reactors. Sulfide oxidation proved to be the most resilient process, since it was not affected in any of the experiments, while nitrification and EM removal were severely affected. In particular, the latter was affected by SO 4 2− and NO 2 − , while nitrification was significantly affected by NH 4 + . The biotrickling filter packed with polyurethane foam was more sensitive to crossed effects than the biotrickling filter packed with poplar wood chips.

Regional contamination by Pb and Zn in southern Moravia (south-east part of the Czech Republic) in the twentieth century was analysed in Brno Dam lake sediments and in floodplain sediments of the Morava River near Strážnice. The age model for the Brno Dam lake sediments has been obtained by 137Cs (maxima corresponding to the nuclear tests in atmosphere and the 1986 Chernobyl accident) and the construction of the dam (1940); the time constraints for the Morava River sediments was the erection of flood defences (1930s) and 210Pb dating. In the case of floodplain sediments, profiles exhibiting post-depositional mobilisation of heavy metals by pedogenic processes (gleying) must be excluded to reconstruct the history of contamination. There was a relatively fast joint onset of Pb and Zn load since the early stages of industrialisation in the first half of the twentieth century, but then the concentrations of these two metals developed in a different manner. Pb load only slightly increased till its peak in 1960s and 1970s. The increase of Zn load was rather stepwise: Soon before 1930s (Morava River floodplain) and in 1940s and 1950s (in Brno Lake), the relative contamination by Zn was much lower than during its peak in the 1970s to the present days. The offset of Pb and Zn contamination curves could have been caused by three different artificial sources of these heavy metals. The temporal shift of Pb and Zn loads can be used for dating sediments.

Animal hormones can enter the aquatic environment along with runoff as a result of manure or litter application on agricultural landscapes. Our understanding of the transport of these hormones and their concentrations at various points along the watershed drainage is however limited. We investigated the transport of naturally produced poultry hormones in an agricultural watershed located on coastal plain soils of Delaware receiving land application of raw poultry manure. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of free and conjugated forms of estrogens in agricultural runoff at selected landscape positions in the agricultural watershed. Estrogen concentrations were determined for surface water, soil water, and runoff sediment. Estrogen forms that were analyzed were: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2β and E2α), Estriol (E3), and their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. Poultry litter application occurred at a rate of 9 Mg ha⁻¹ in early spring (April 2010). Sampling was performed for surface runoff, subsurface drainage, and sediment for nine storm events extending over 187 days before and after manure application (March–October 2010). Runoff was collected from the field edge, upland and lowland riparian positions and from the stream. Samples were analyzed by for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Concentrations of estrogens were low (<20 ng l⁻¹) for most of the samples and decreased from the field edge into the riparian zone. Estrogens were not detected in soil water and runoff sediments. Overall, this study suggests that manure application practices at our sites in Delaware such as incorporation of litter into the soil likely reduced the concentrations of estrogens in runoff and reduced the threat posed to aquatic ecosystems.

The use of membranes prepared with alginate and chitosan to adsorb paraquat aqueous solution was evaluated as a potential alternative technique for remediation of contaminated water. Production of bilayer membranes was based on the electrostatic interaction between alginate (a polyanion) and chitosan (a polycation). Herbicide adsorption experiments were performed using three different membranes, consisting of pure alginate, pure chitosan, and a chitosan/alginate bilayer. Adsorption was characterized using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, as well as by applying pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. The potential use of the membranes in environmental applications was evaluated using water collected from the Sorocabinha River in São Paulo State, Brazil. The results indicated that interactions between the membranes and the herbicide were strongly related to the type of biopolymer and the physical–chemical characteristics of the herbicide.

Arsenic and heavy metal (specifically Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) uptake, translocation, and accumulation in ten native plant species spontaneously growing in soils polluted by mining activities were studied, with a focus on future phytoremediation work in polluted soils. Plant and soil samples were collected in the vicinity of the Mónica mine (NW Madrid, Spain). Soil analysis showed the ability of native plants for growing in soils with high concentration levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and especially As. From these elements, the highest percentage of extractable elements was found for Cd and the lowest for Pb. A highly significant correlation was observed between total and extractable element concentrations in soils, except for Cu, indicating that total concentration is the most relevant factor for element mobility in these soils. Extractable elements in soils were better correlated with concentrations in plants than total elements in soils; thus, extraction methods applied are suitable to estimate the element phytoavailable fraction in soils, which depends on the plant species and not only on the element mobility in soils. High element concentrations were found in the aboveground parts of Corrigiola telephiifolia (As and Pb), Jasione montana (Cd and Zn), and Digitalis thapsi (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn). However, considering the translocation and accumulation factors, together with the concentration levels found in roots and aboveground parts, only C. telephiifolia could be considered a Pb accumulator and an As hyperaccumulator plant, which could be used for future phytoremediation work in soils polluted with As.

The clinoptilolite which was modified with sodium and potassium chloride was found to have adsorption capacity for rhodium. To evaluate the adsorption capacity and characteristics, the effects of solution pH, dose of clinoptilolite loading, contact time, temperature, and initial rhodium concentration were investigated in a batch mode. Adsorption was decreased with the increasing temperature for both modified clinoptilolites. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were used for mathematical description of the adsorption equilibrium. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir model in the concentrations of 2–60 mg l−1 at 293 and 313 K. Based on the Langmuir isotherm plots, the maximum adsorption capacity value was calculated to be 0.415 mg g−1 at 293 K. Various thermodynamic parameters such as ∆G°, ∆H°, and ∆S° were evaluated with results indicating that this system was an exothermic spontaneous reaction and kinetically suited to the pseudo-second-order model.