2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin) are two commonly observed taste and odor compounds present in drinking water sources. The effects of pH on the analysis of the two chemicals are investigated using a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometric detector (GC/MSD) coupled with three pre-concentration methods, namely solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), purge-and-trap concentration (PTC), and liquid–liquid extraction (LLE). At neutral and alkaline pH conditions, the concentrations detected for both compounds remain constant. However, a substantial reduction of concentration for both chemicals is observed when the water solution pH is less than 5. Under acidic conditions (pH ≅ 2.5), the 2-MIB concentrations detected by GC/MSD coupled with SPME, PTC, and LLE are 87%, 16%, and 37% lower than those measured at pH 6–7, respectively. For geosmin, a decrease in concentration is only observed when using GC/MSD-SPME, presumably due to the higher extraction temperature compared to the other two techniques. The pH-dependent behavior was attributed to dehydration of the tertiary alcohols of 2-MIB and geosmin under acidic conditions. The dehydration for 2-MIB and geosmin is reversible, and the analysis can be mitigated by adjusting the water solution pH back to a neutral condition.

Among the many anthropogenic abiotic stresses, manganese (Mn) toxicity has been recognized for its impact on aquatic ecosystems as well as on the biological components of these ecosystems, including aquatic plants. The objective of this study was to determine the Mn accumulation ability of aquatic macrophytes (Azolla caroliniana, Salvinia minima and Spirodela polyrhiza) and evaluate the morphophysiological responses of the species that gather the highest amount of Mn when exposed to a supra-optimal supply of manganese. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory, and the effects of Mn were evaluated based on plant growth; the concentration of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins; the enzymatic activity of catalase and peroxidase; and leaf anatomy. All of the studied species accumulated Mn in their tissues. Moreover, it was observed that this accumulation was dependent on the concentration of the metal in solution. S. polyrhiza showed higher concentrations of Mn in its tissues (17.062 mg g−1 dry weight (DW)), followed by S. minima (4.283 mg g−1 DW) and A. caroliniana (1.341 mg g−1 DW). Despite the Mn accumulation in all species, S. polyrhiza was the only one selected for further analyses because of its greater ability to accumulate Mn. The high Mn concentration found in tissues of S. polyrhiza suggests that this species has the potential to sequester and accumulate this metal. However, a sensitive response in the plants exposed to higher Mn concentrations (0.4 mM) was observed. The phytotoxicity effects of this accumulation were responsible for a decrease in the plant growth, a reduction in the pigment content (total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins), a low activity of catalase, and the disarrangement of the leaf aerenchyma.

Electrochemical processes in industrial effluents have been studied as a means to obtain higher efficiency in wastewater treatment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis appears as a low-cost alternative through the use of lower wattage lamps and thermal TiO₂ films. Photocatalysis became a clean process for water treatment due to hydroxyl radicals generated on semiconductor surface. Such radicals are able to degrade several organic compounds. This study used different electrodes and analytical methods for degradation of phenol molecules to reduce treatment costs, improve efficiency, and identify compounds formed during the decomposition of phenolic molecules. Thermal growth of TiO₂ film was observed on the titanium electrode in rutile form. Application of an electrical potential on the Ti/TiO₂ working electrode increases efficiency in reducing concentration of phenol after photocatalytic treatment. Still, high energy radiation (UVC) showed best degradation rates in photolytic process. Different compounds formed during the degradation of phenol were also identified in the UVC–PE treatment.

The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is impacted by inflows containing elevated contaminant concentrations originating from agricultural and urban areas. Water quality was analyzed using the Enhanced Refuge (ERN), the four-part test (FPTN), and the Consent Decree (CDN) monitoring networks within four zones in the Refuge. The zones were defined as the canal surrounding the marsh, the perimeter, the transition, and the interior zones. Although regression coefficients for ALK and SpC, and Ca, Cl, and SO₄ concentrations with distance from the canal were lower using the FPTN than when using the ERN, using the FPTN to measure water quality parameters in the Refuge would give similar results as the ERN. Most of the ERN and FPTN sites are located in the northern and central areas of the Refuge. Water is deeper in the southern Refuge, and on an area basis contains a greater volume of water than the northern and central Refuge and therefore, water flow from the canal into the marsh in the northern and southern Refuge may differ. Numerous water quality monitoring sites must be added to the ERN and FPTN in the southern area to characterize water quality in the southern Refuge with confidence.

Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (CAS) has been used in a pilot plant study as a biodegradable surfactant for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lead (Pb) from contaminated soils. The soil treatment has been done in flotation cells with a concentration of 0.20 g CAS L−1 in saline conditions (3 M NaCl) and using a pulp density of 20% (w/w). The process integrates the recirculation of the liquid phases separated from the soil by centrifugation or filtration. Thus, it was necessary to understand CAS-PAHs micellar behavior and to follow the behavior and the fate of the surfactant in the process. 1-8-anilino-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) is used as a fluorophor compound in the ANS enhanced fluorescence technique. A three-dimensional model detailing the change in the micellar behavior at high NaCl concentration and at different pH has been established. Fluorescence results of centrifuged soil matrix containing CAS have been compared to the results from synthetic solutions assays. A method allowing an accurate titration of the CAS has been developed by using the exact same matrix of the soil as the tested samples for the preparation of the calibration curves. The study of the surfactant concentration in the process has been performed and allows the adjustment of the CAS concentration in the recirculated water.

The occurrence of fluoride in groundwater has been reported in many countries, mainly because the excess fluoride in drinking water can lead to dental or skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride removal by coagulation with Moringa oleifera seeds, followed by separation with membranes, was investigated in this work. Artificially fluoridated water, at a starting fluoride concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹, was submitted to a coagulation process with aqueous extracts of M. oleifera seeds. The coagulation process was followed by ultrafiltration with membranes at different pressures. The coagulation process with 2.5 g L⁻¹ of M. oleifera promoted a reduction of 90.90 % in the fluoride content of the treated water, making it possible for poor communities to consume this water. It is noteworthy that the combined coagulation/filtration process using raw coagulant showed the highest values of colour and turbidity, which, however, were still below the limits set for drinking water by Brazilian legislation. The advantage of proposing a sequential process using membrane separation is that it removes colour and turbidity, caused by the use of M. oleifera as a coagulant, resulting in water that meets potability standards.

Odors, such as the malodorous and toxic hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), are released during leachate collection, storage, and treatment. A full-scale biofilter was applied to treat H₂S emitted from a leachate equalization basin in a sanitary landfill site. The inlet concentration of H₂S was 26.3–213.0 mg m⁻³. In steady state, total removal efficiency was over 90 % in summer and over 80 % in winter. The maximum elimination capacity achieved 9.1 g m⁻³ h⁻¹ at a loading rate of 10.5 g m⁻³ h⁻¹. The biofilter was effective at reducing H₂S. Factors on the level of H₂S inlet concentration and performance of the biofilter were investigated. The H₂S inlet load and removal efficiency relied on ambient and biofilter temperature, respectively. The water containing rate and relative humidity presented seasonal variation, according to which the interval period of irrigation could be optimized. The main product of H₂S degradation was sulfate, and sulfur also could be observed from the biofilter. Spatial and temporal shifts in bacterial community composition in the biofilter were determined by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis followed by DNA sequence analysis. The present study revealed a correlation between biofilter performance and bacterial community structure, especially in a real application case.

The assessment of soil pollution with heavy metals has been studied, based on experimental soil and plant analytical heavy metal data obtained by a pot experiment conducted during 2010–2011 in a green house. A completely randomized block design was used, including the following sludge treatments (in tons per hectare): 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and (30+treated wastewater) in four replications. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) var. longifolia was used as a test plant. Three indices were proposed, i.e., (1) elemental pollution index, (2) heavy metal load, and (3) total concentration factor. They were found to be linearly and statistically significantly related to the pollution load index, which was used as a reference index, and curvilinearly related to lettuce dry matter yield. It was concluded that the above indices could be used for the assessment of soil pollution level.

In this study, p-tert-butylcalix[4]-aza-crown (CAC) immobilized sporopollenin (Sp) was used as a sorbent for the removal of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous media. Sporopollenin was firstly functionalized with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTS) in order to obtain chloro-sporopollenin (Sp-Cl). The Sp-Cl was reacted subsequently with CAC yielding CAC-bonded sporopollenin (Sp-Cl-CAC). The new sorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sorption properties of modified sorbent (Sp-Cl-CAC) are also investigated. The optimum pH values for the separation of metal ions from aqueous solution onto Sp-Cl-CAC were 5.0 for Pb(II) and Cu(II) and 5.5 for Zn(II). The maximum sorption capacities for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 0.07 (4.44 mg g), 0.07 (4.58 mg g) and 0.14 (29.00 mg g) mmol g, respectively. Sorption thermodynamic parameters of such as free energy ( ∆G), enthalpy ( ∆H), and entropy ( ∆S) were evaluated.

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.