This study aimed to develop a visible and near-infrared (Vis/NIR) chemical imaging (400–1000 nm) technique to provide rapid prediction of the contents of sodium humate dissolved in aquaculture environment. Gray reference image with 5% reflectance value was first used to correct the obtained raw images in order to promote the reflectance values as compared to that with 99% reflectance for further spectral analysis. Successive projection algorithm (SPA) was introduced to extract four optimal wavelengths, which were then used for the establishment of back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models. The results revealed that the BP-ANN model based on the selected four optimal wavelengths better performed ([Formula: see text] = 0.986, [Formula: see text] = 0.985, [Formula: see text] = 0.993, RMSEC = 0.329 mg/L, RMSECV = 0.433, RMSEP = 0.734 mg/L) than that based on the whole 381 wavelengths ([Formula: see text] = 0.978, [Formula: see text] = 0.996, [Formula: see text] = 0.977, RMSEC = 0.388 mg/L, RMSECV = 0.625, RMSEP = 0.734 mg/L). Finally, a series of chemical images were developed to clearly display the concentration distribution of the sodium humate dissolved in water, demonstrating that Vis/NIR chemical imaging technique was feasible to quantify the contents of sodium humate in the aquatic environment and could be further used for real-time monitoring the quality of aquaculture water.

Phthalates are considered as dangerous priority pollutants, several effects being attributed to them: foetal deformations, cancers, and endocrine disruptions. Activated carbons are highly efficient materials for the adsorption of numerous organic molecules. Before their use, it is important first to determine both textural and chemical properties and to study kinetics and thermodynamics adsorption, to understand and to optimize the interactions between material and molecules. The aim of this work was to study the kinetics and the adsorption isotherms of three phthalates (dimethylphthalate, diethylphthalate, and diethylhexylphthalate) currently found in industrial effluents, on two different activated carbons. The co-adsorption of these molecules in a synthetic mix and in complex matrices was modeled. The kinetic study and adsorption isotherms of dimethylphthalate and diethylphthalate in monosolute and bisolute were first investigated, followed by a similar study with a mix of the three molecules in complex matrices (surface water (Loire and Loiret Rivers near Orléans city) and municipal wastewater treatment plant outflow). The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was used to determine the kinetic adsorption parameters. The Langmuir equation was used to calculate the surface occupied. Results showed that non-electrostatic interactions are predominant in phthalate adsorption in complex matrices, mainly due to dispersion forces and hydrophobic interactions.

A new dithiocarbamate-base resin was synthesized utilizing the reaction between carbon disulfide and immobilized amines on the fully cross-linked side of the styrene-maleicimide (SMI) copolymer. The sorption characteristics of the synthesized resin for copper, lead, nickel, zinc, and cadmium ions were investigated, using atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS). The sorption capacity of the resin for each metal ion was studied as a function of pH and time. The optimum pH range for sorption of the metal ions was between 4 and 6. The capacity of the resin for the metal ions decreases in the following order: Cu(II) ≈ Pb(II) > > Zn(II) > Ni(II) > Cd(II). The sorption rate of the metal ions in the resin decreases in the following order: Zn(II) > Ni(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II) > Cu(II). The affinity of the resin for the ions was also studied using a mixture of the heavy metal ions. The capacities of the new resin, especially for copper and lead, are significantly higher than previously studied resins. Additionally, it was shown that desorption of the captured ions from the resin within 24 h can be done using 1 M nitric acid solution.

Bagasse activated carbon (AC) and the new type of activated carbon (KAC) prepared with reactivation method of ZnCl₂-KOH were modified with triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). The as-modified adsorbents for CO₂ separation were investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, N₂ adsorption–desorption, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When the content of amine group is 5%, the CO₂ adsorption quantity of TEPA-loaded adsorbents reaches the highest at 60 °C (3.62 mmol/g for KAC and 1.98 mmol/g for AC, respectively). With a more abundant pore structure, KAC is more suitable for amine modification and its adsorption capacity of CO₂ is higher than that of AC after amine modification. Cyclic adsorption–desorption tests showed satisfactory regenerations for the modified adsorbents. Compared with other adsorbents, such as activated carbon, microporous zeolite, and mesoporous molecular sieve reported in literature, the new adsorbent prepared from the by-product of sugar industry has good performance (1.05–3.14 mmol/g larger than those of others) under the same conditions (60 °C and 15% partial pressure). The results are expected to provide scientific basis for the practical application.

PCDD/F-contaminated soil of a coastal region formerly involved in the production of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in Tainan City in southern Taiwan, has drawn wide concern throughout the island. This main goal of this study was to find an effective and environmentally friendly means of removing PCDD/Fs from its contaminated fields. We performed a soil washing experiment with fish extract using a combination of ultrasonification and mechanical double-blade stirring. The experiments were conducted under ambient temperature, at a soil/liquid ratio of 1:2.5, 700 rpm, and over a short duration. This combined method using fish extract removed 94.12% of the pollutant in moderately contaminated soils (5 washing cycles) and 94.51% in highly contaminated soils (10 washing cycles), mostly via particle collision and penetration. These findings highlight the benefits of PCDD/F partitioning between the particles and fish oil extract. This study is the first to use fish oil extract, a natural solvent, to treat soils highly contaminated with dioxins. Because fish oil extract is rich in non-toxic bio-surfactants (e.g., alcohols, acids, ketones, etc.), it may be used in this process to improve bioavailability and bioactivity of the soil making bio-attenuation and full remediation safer and more efficient.

Among the measures used to manage mosquito populations and prevent human diseases, the application of pesticides is the global strategy mostly employed. To investigate the lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides used to control mosquitoes on amphibians (Rhinella arenarum, Rhinella fernandezae, and Physalaemus albonotatus), tadpoles were exposed to commercial formulations of temephos (Abate®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Introban®), and permethrin (Depe®). Their acute toxicity in terms of median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and no- (NOEC) and lowest-observed-effect concentrations (LOEC) was evaluated. To assess the sublethal effects on behavioral endpoints, tadpoles were exposed to the NOEC-24-h value of each insecticide. After that, tadpoles were recorded and video-streaming data were processed by Smart® software. Based on LC₅₀, permethrin was the most toxic insecticide, followed by temephos and B. thuringiensis var. israelensis. Also, intraspecific and interspecific susceptibilities of tadpoles to insecticides were observed. Regarding behavior, the exposure of R. arenarum to the three insecticides had a significant effect on all behavioral endpoints. Two of the three swimming parameters evaluated for R. fernandezae were affected by permethrin, and in the end, only one behavioral pattern was altered in P. albonotatus after exposure to temephos. These results showed that tadpoles’ species were affected differently depending on the chemical properties of the pesticide and on a dose-response effect of the insecticides. Overall, our study suggests that further research is needed to quantify the potential damage of pyrethroid insecticides used for mosquito control on non-target aquatic organisms, mainly due to etho-toxic effects.

Increasing soil contamination by heavy metals is a major threat to environmental safety and global food security. The present study examined the influence of Cd and As stresses on morpho-physiological growth and yield of two contrasting maize cultivars (Run Nong 35 and Dong Dan 80). The Cd (100 μM) and As (200 μM) were applied individually as well as in combination (Cd + As) at 30 DAS. A control without Cd or As stress was also maintained for comparison. Application of Cd and As alone or in combination substantially reduced the growth (plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, stem diameter, and shoot fresh and dry weight) and yield (number of ears per plant, number of kernels per ear, and 100-kernel weight) contributing traits in both maize cultivars particularly in Run Nong 35. Furthermore, pronounced reductions in gas exchange attributes (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO₂) and chlorophyll contents were observed in metal-stressed plants. The combined application of Cd and As was more detrimental for maize, and this treatment recorded the maximum reductions in morpho-physiological growth and yield of both cultivars. Cultivar variations were also apparent, and Dong Dan 80 performed better than Run Nong 35 for all the studied attributes. The higher tolerance of Dong Dan 80 was associated with better leaf gas exchange and maintenance of chlorophyll contents in this cultivar under Cd and As stress.

The promotive effect of constructed wetlands (CWs) with polyculture on treatment efficiency is still a controversial problem. Additionally, there is limited information regarding the influence of temperature on CWs. In this study, the influence of vegetation type, different NH₄ ⁺-N loading rates, and environmental temperatures on performance of CWs were investigated. Results of different vegetation type indicated that removal of NH₄ ⁺-N and total phosphorus (TP) in polyculture was higher than other CWs. In polyculture, tested nutrients had removal percentages greater than 94.5%. Results of different NH₄ ⁺-N loading rates demonstrated that NH₄ ⁺-N was almost completely removed (around 99.5%) in polyculture under both NH₄ ⁺-N loading rates. Temperature could substantially influenced the performance of CWs and the removal percentages of NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ⁺-N, total nitrogen (TN), and TP in all CWs tended to decrease with a decline of temperature. Especially, a sharp decline in the removal percentage of NO₃ ⁻-N of all CWs (greater than 39%) was observed at low temperature (average temperature of 8.9 °C). Overall, the polyculture also showed the best performance with the decline of temperature as compared to other CWs. This study clearly documented that polyculture was an attractive solution for the treatment of domestic sewage and polyculture systems were effective for domestic sewage treatment in CWs even at low temperature (8.9 °C).

Although there is a growing interest in emerging organic contaminants (EOCs), most research is focused on wastewater treatment, the occurrence of EOCs, and their fate in the aquatic environment. There is limited information about their behavior in agricultural soils, where they can be introduced via irrigation with treated wastewater (TWW). In this study, the degradation in an agricultural soil of eight EOCs (bisphenol A, carbamazepine, diethyl phthalate, ethyl paraben, 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, primidone, Surfynol 104, and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate) with a broad range of physical-chemical properties was monitored for 40 days. Two types of soil treatments were performed: non-sterilization and sterilization. In the non-sterilized soil, by the end of the incubation period, degradation was greater than 70% for all the target compounds except carbamazepine, Surfynol 104, and primidone (<50%). In contrast, in the sterilized soil, the degradation of most of the compounds was less than 50%, except ethyl paraben, 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole, and diethyl phthalate (>70%). These findings indicate that soil sterilization reduces overall degradation rates, which suggests that microbial activity plays an important role in the degradation of most of the EOCs studied in soil.

In this study, Auricularia auricular spent substrate (AASS) was modified by sodium hydroxide and prepared as biosorbents to remove lead(II) from aqueous solution. The batch experiments showed that the biosorption capacity and biosorption percentage reached 36.35 mg g⁻¹ and 72.7% at initial concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹, pH 5, contact time of 200 min, and biosorbent dosage of 1 g L⁻¹. The biosorption of lead(II) onto modified AASS well fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with the maximum adsorption capacity(q ₘₐₓ) of 49.53 mg L⁻¹. The biosorption was an endothermic reaction and a spontaneous process based on positive value of ΔH ⁰ and negative value of ΔG ⁰. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis illuminated that amino and hydroxyl groups could bind lead(II) on biosorbent surface. Sodium hydroxide modification might enhance physical adsorption by enlarging surface area and pore volume as well as chemical adsorption by increasing ion exchange and forming crystalline species demonstrated by microscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. After four regeneration cycles, the biosorption capacity of modified AASS still kept at 17.35 mg g⁻¹.