Thirty strains of fungi collected from nature were investigated for their ability to grow on agar medium contaminated with Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). The results showed that strain U97, later identified as Trametes versicolor, was the most active decomposer. This fungus decolorized 85 % of RBBR in 6 h and degraded 71 % of DDT in 30 days. In RBBR decolorization, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that two peaks were identified as metabolic products. Among inducers for ligninolytic enzymes, only veratryl alcohol improved RBBR decolorization and DDT degradation by 93 % and 77 %, respectively. A partial least squares method using Minitab 15 showed that lignin peroxidase exhibited a positive correlation to the abilities of T. versicolor U97 to decolorize RBBR and degrade DDT. A multivariate linear equation, with the same values of ligninolytic activity during RBBR decolorization and DDT degradation, revealed that 1 % RBBR decolorization represented 1.16 % DDT degradation. Screening with agar or liquid medium and improvement of the mathematical modeling could have practical importance in the exploitation of T. versicolor U97 for the removal of DDT on a commercial scale.

The adsorption and desorption of copper (II) ions from aqueous solutions were investigated using polydopamine (PD) nanoparticles. The nanoscale PD nanoparticles with mean diameter of 75 nm as adsorbent were synthesized from alkaline solution of dopamine and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of pH (2–6), adsorbent dosage (0.2–0.8 g L−1), temperature (298–323 K), initial concentration (20–100 mg L−1), foreign ions (Zn2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Fe2+, and Ag+), and contact time (0–360 min) on adsorption of copper ions were investigated through batch experiments. The isotherm adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum uptake capacity of Cu2+ ions onto PD nanoparticles was found to 34.4 mg/g. The kinetic data were fitted well to pseudo-second-order model. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption (the Gibbs free energy, entropy, and enthalpy) were studied.

The sorption of four endocrine disruptors, bisphenol A (BPA), estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in tropical sediment samples was studied in batch mode under different conditions of pH, time, and sediment amount. Data obtained from sorption experiments using the endocrine disruptors (EDs) and sediments containing different amounts of organic matter showed that there was a greater interaction between the EDs and organic matter (OM) present in the sediment, particularly at lower pH values. The pseudosecond order kinetics model successfully explained the interaction between the EDs and the sediment samples. The theoretical and experimentally obtained q e values were similar, and k values were smaller for higher SOM contents. The k F values, obtained from the Freundlich isotherms, varied in the ranges 4.2–7.4 × 10−2 (higher OM sediment sample, S2) and 1.7 × 10−3–3.1 × 10−2 (lower OM sediment sample, S1), the latter case indicating an interaction with the sediment that increased in the order: EE2 > > E2 > E1 > BPA. These results demonstrate that the availability of endocrine disruptors may be directly related to the presence of organic material in sediment samples. Studies of this kind provide an important means of understanding the mobility, transport, and/or reactivity of this type of emergent contaminant in aquatic systems.

The degradation of total oil and grease (TOG) in crude oil-contaminated soil in the presence of Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk was investigated in a net house study. C. brevifolius plants were transplanted in to spiked soil containing 8% (w/w) crude oil. The capability of plant for enhancing the biodegradation process was tested in pots containing fertilized and unfertilized soil over a 360-day period. Analysis of the degradation of hydrocarbon contaminants, plant growth, and biomass was conducted at 60-day interval. In the presence of contaminants, plant biomass and height were significantly reduced. The specific root surface area was reduced under the effects of crude oil. Concerning TOG content in soil, C. brevifolius could decrease up to 86.2% in TA (crude oil-contaminated soil with fertilizer) and 61.2% in TC (crude oil-contaminated soil without fertilizer). In the unvegetated pots, the reduction of TOG was 13.7% in TB (crude oil-contaminated soil with fertilizer) and 12.5% in TD (crude oil-contaminated soil without fertilizer). However, biodegradation was significantly more in vegetated pots than in unvegetated pots (p = 0.05). The addition of fertilizer had positive effect on TOG degradation in the presence of C. brevifolius compared to the unfertilized treatments. Thus, there was evidence of C. brevifolius enhancing the biodegradation of crude oil in soil under the conditions of this experiment.

This paper presents an overview of a long-term study on sediment pollution in the city canals of Delft, the Netherlands. This pollution was most evident for the inner city canal system, with copper, lead, zinc, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as main pollutants. Sediments of the outer city canals generally had a much better quality. Pollution levels, mutual correlations, and spatial variations were investigated for the various sediment parameters. Also, heavy metal binding forms onto Delft sediments were assessed with the help of sequential extraction techniques; results were found to be in line with expected preferential physicochemical binding processes. Input of sediments into the Delft inner city canals was shown to be largely driven by busy shipping traffic on the main canal surrounding the inner city. Mass balances for the inner city were used to quantify internal and external pollution sources; 65–85 % of the heavy metal pollution can be attributed to sources outside the Delft area. As shown by factor and cluster analyses, it is highly probable that these external sources derive from the river Rhine. A gradual improvement of the sediment quality has set in; it is expected that, due to further pollution abatement measures, this improvement will continue over the years to come. With respect to the ship-induced sediment input into the inner city canals, it was estimated that a reduction of ship velocities to <1.5 m/s will bring down the sediment input mentioned above to about 85 %.

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.

The aim of this study was to investigate the removal of both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals from field-contaminated sediments by activated persulfate oxidation. Various chemicals, including hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇), and hydrochloric acid (HCl), were applied individually before or after activated persulfate oxidation to enhance the co-removal of both types of pollutants. It was found that the organic removal efficiency was not significantly enhanced by increasing the concentration of HPCD from 2.5 to 5.0 mM. The removal efficiency of heavy metals was not improved even at an excess amount of EDDS after activated persulfate oxidation. However, the addition of EDDS acted as the Fe²+ carrier for activated persulfate oxidation. In addition, no significant enhancement of heavy metal removal was observed by increasing the concentrations of Na₄P₂O₇ and HCl from 0.01 to 0.1 M after activated persulfate oxidation. However, comparing 0.1 M HCl with 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇, HCl was shown to be more effective in promoting the removal of organic pollutants. With further adjustments on the experimental conditions, the highest removal amount of metals and PAHs was achieved by adding 2 M of HCl with 3 days mixing, followed by Fe²+-activated persulfate oxidation (PS/Fe²+ molar ratio at 4:1) for further 6 h mixing. The removal efficiency of low and high molecular weight PAHs was about 70 and 20 %, respectively, while the removal efficiency of metals was 70, 100, 40, 65, 65, 80, and 100 % for Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively.

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 adsorption of residue oil from palm oil mill effluent using natural zeolite was investigated in this study. The adsorption was performed in batch mode, and the effect of different operational parameters such as pH, dose of adsorbent, stirring rate, contact time and initial oil concentration were explored. It was found that the pH plays a major role in the adsorption process. Isotherm data best fitted with the Freundlich model, and kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results obtained demonstrated that the oil removal efficiencies by natural zeolite were up to 70 % at a pH of 3.0 and 50 min of contact time. The adsorbent material also has been characterised by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy.

PURPOSE: A comparison between suburban and rural atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in Northern Spain is made. METHOD: Measurements were carried out from April 2006 to November 2007 using MIR 9000 continuous analyzers based on the infrared technique. Two locations were established: a suburban site in Valladolid, a medium-sized city, and a rural location at CIBA, approximately 24 km northwest of Valladolid. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Mean suburban CO2 concentrations are 4.5 ppm higher than rural levels. Frequencies of suburban concentrations from 400 to 450 ppm were around twice the rural frequencies. The suburban daily evolution presented two maxima in the predawn hours and at 1900–2000 GMT, mainly associated to anthropogenic emissions which also affected maximum concentrations recorded in autumn–winter and minimum levels in summer. The rural variation with minimum values during the day and high levels at night is mainly related to vegetation activity which also impacts the highest CO2 concentrations obtained in spring, coinciding with maximum vegetation growth. Boundary layer processes also affected variability of concentrations recorded at both sites. Air quality at the rural site was also influenced by air mass transport from the urban plume (S, SSE, and ESE), which had a mean CO2 value of 402 ppm. By contrast, concentrations were low when SW–W and NW winds prevailed and brought cleaner air. The relationship between rural CO2 concentrations and wind speed using a mathematical fit provides a valuable estimation of the background level at the site, 384.8 ppm.