Accurate prediction and intelligent control of COD and other parameters removal from pharmaceutical wastewater using electrocoagulation coupled with catalytic ozonation process.

In this study, we employed the response surface method (RSM) and the long short-term memory (LSTM) model to optimize operational parameters and predict chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the electrocoagulation-catalytic ozonation process (ECOP) for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Through RSM simulation, we quantified the effects of reaction time, ozone dose, current density, and catalyst packed rate on COD removal. Then, the optimal conditions for achieving a COD removal efficiency exceeding 50% were identified.

Synergistic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water by interfacial pre-reduction enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation derived from novel zero-valent iron/biochar.

Iron-based biochar exhibits great potential in degrading emerging pollutants and remediation of water environments. In this study, a highly efficient catalytic Fe/biochar (MZB-800) was synthesized by the co-pyrolysis of poplar sawdust and KFeO at 800 °C. A novel water purification technology of pre-reduction followed by PMS activation for MZB-800 was proposed to degrade the refractory 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) pesticide.

A novel insight of degradation ibuprofen in aqueous by catalytic ozonation with supported catalyst: Supports effect on ozone mass transfer.

Catalytic ozonation is an effective wastewater purification process. However, the low ozone mass transfer in packed bubble columns leads to low ozone utilization efficiency (OUE), poor organic degradation performance, and high energy consumption. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop efficient supported catalysts that can enhance mass transfer and performance.

Interfacial reactions of catalytic ozone membranes resulting in the release and degradation of irreversible foulants.

An efficient in-situ self-cleaning catalytic ceramic-membrane tailored with MnO-CoO nanoparticles (Mn-Co-CM) was fabricated. Density functional theory calculations result substantiated that molecular ozone could be effectively adsorbed by oxygen vacancies (OV) on the Mn-Co-CM surface and then direct activated into a surface-bound atomic oxygen (*O) and a peroxide (*O), ultimately producing OH. Mn-Co-CM coupling with ozone efficiently removed foulants from the permeate and the membrane surface simultaneously and leading to in-situ formation of OH that changed the nature of the irreversible foulants and ultimately resulted in the rapid release and degradation of humic acid-like substances causing irreversible fouling.

Two-dimensional layered carbon-based catalytic ozonation for water purification: Rational design of catalysts and an in-depth understanding of the interfacial reaction mechanism.

This review renewed insight into the existing complex and contradictory mechanisms of catalytic ozonation by two-dimensional layered carbon-based materials (2D-LCMs) for degradation toxic refractory organics in aqueous solution. Migration and capture of active electrons are central to catalytic ozonation reactions, which was not studied or reviewed more clearly. Based on this perspective, the catalytic ozonation potential of 2D-LCMs synthesized by numerous methods is firstly contrasted to guide the design of subsequent carbon based-catalysts, and not limited to 2D-LCMs.

Energy-efficient removal of carbamazepine in solution by electrocoagulation-electrofenton using a novel P-rGO cathode.

In this study, carbamazepine (CBZ) decay in solution has been studied by coupling electrocoagulation with electro-Fenton (EC-EF) with a novel P-rGO/carbon felt (CF) cathode, aiming to accelerate the in-situ generation of •OH, instead of adding Fe and HO. Firstly, the fabricated P-rGO and its derived cathode were characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM, XPS and electrochemical test (EIS, CV and LSV). Secondly, it was confirmed that the performance in removal efficiency and electric energy consumption (EEC) by EC-EF (k=0.

Evaluation of the Removal of Selected Phthalic Acid Esters (PAEs) in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Supported by Constructed Wetlands.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) have a negative impact on living organisms in the environment, therefore, are among the group of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (ECDs). Unfortunately, conventional methods used in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) are not designed to eliminate PAEs. For this reason, the development of cheap and simple but very effective techniques for the removal of such residues from wastewater is crucial.

Metabolism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by non-target wild-living organisms.

The presence of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the environment is a fact, and aquatic and soil organisms are chronically exposed to trace levels of these emerging pollutants. This review presents the current state of knowledge on the metabolic pathways of NSAIDs in organisms at various levels of biological organisation. More than 150 publications dealing with target or non-target analysis of selected NSAIDs (mainly diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen) were collected.

The Identification of Cotton Fibers Dyed with Reactive Dyes for Forensic Purposes.

Some of the most common microtraces that are currently collected at crime scenes are fragments of single fibers. The perpetrator leaves them at a crime scene or takes them away, for example, on their clothing or body. In turn, the microscopic dimensions of such traces mean that the perpetrator does not notice them and therefore usually does not take action to remove them.

Special Issue "Pharmaceutical Residues in the Environment".

Pharmaceuticals, due to their pseudo-persistence and biological activity as well as their extensive use in human and veterinary medicine, are a class of environmental contaminants that is of emerging concern [...

Identification of Selected Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Two Different Wastewater Treatment Plant Systems in Poland: A Preliminary Study.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem worldwide. The emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistance determinants have led to an increasing concern about the potential environmental and public health endangering. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play an important role in this phenomenon since antibacterial drugs introduced into wastewater can exert a selection pressure on antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).

Critical study of crop-derived biochars for soil amendment and pharmaceutical ecotoxicity reduction.

In this study, biochars (BCs) produced from crops (straw and seeds) were tested for the applicability as additive to soils. The effect on pH, water capacity and cation exchange capacity of soil were tested. The ability for the sorption of pharmaceuticals (beta-blockers, anti-inflammatory drugs, sulfonamides, 17α-ethinylestradiol, carbamazepine, caffeine) using the batch sorption test was performed, and the effect of water pH was investigated.

Evaluation of the Possibility of Using Hydroponic Cultivations for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants.

The problem of the presence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment is closely related to municipal wastewater and in consequence to municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) because wastewater is the main way in which these compounds are transferred to the ecosystem. For this reason, the development of cheap, simple but very effective techniques for the removal of such residues from wastewater is very important. In this study, the analysis of the potential of using three new plants: (Papyrus), (Yellow pimpernel), and (European spindle) by hydroponic cultivation for the removal of 15 selected pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in an MWWTP is presented.

Antibiotic resistance genes identified in wastewater treatment plant systems - A review.

The intensive use of antibiotics for human, veterinary and agricultural purposes, results in their continuous release into the environment. Together with antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are introduced into wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are believed to be probable hotspots for antibiotic resistance dissemination in the environment as they offer convenient conditions for ARB proliferation as well as for horizontal transfer of ARGs among different microorganisms.

Cyanobacteria derived taste and odor characteristics in various lakes in China: Songhua Lake, Chaohu Lake and Taihu Lake.

In recent years, increasing eutrophication in large freshwater lakes, which are an important drinking water source for cities in China, have been resulted in substantial cyanobacteria blooms that could cause serious taste and odor (T&O) problems. In this investigation, three typical lakes (Songhua Lake, Chaohu Lake and Taihu Lake) as drinking water sources located in different geographical areas in China, were selected to study the problems of cyanobacteria-derived T&O (i.e.

Determination of twenty pharmaceutical contaminants in soil using ultrasound-assisted extraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection.

In this paper, an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of twenty pharmaceuticals (eight non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, five oestrogenic hormones, two antiepileptic drugs, two β-blockers, and three antidepressants) in soils was developed. The optimal method included ultrasound-assisted extraction, a clean-up step on a silica gel column, derivatization using N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in pyridine and ethyl acetate (2:1:1, v/v/v) for 30 min at 60 °C, and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry working in the selected ion monitoring mode. This affords good resolution, high sensitivity and reproducibility, and freedom from interferences even from complex matrices such as soils.

Simultaneous determination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and natural estrogens in the mussels Mytilus edulis trossulus.

In this study, an ASE (Accelerated Solvent extraction)-SPE (Solid Phase Extraction)-GC/MS(SIM) method for the simultaneous determination of five non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: ibuprofen (IBU), paracetamol (PAR), diclofenac (DIC), naproxen (NAP) and ketoprofen (KET)) and three natural estrogens (estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3)) in mussels was proposed, which is simple, cheap and easy for use in environmental laboratories. For the first time, the sorbents: PSA (Primary Secondary Amine) and FLORISIL®, placed directly inside the extraction cells, were used for the improvement of the ASE procedure for the isolation of these pollutants from mussel samples. The application of FLORISIL® especially allowed the purification of the extract to increase recovery, without the loss of analytes, or prolongation of the extraction time.

The Identification of Polyester Fibers Dyed with Disperse Dyes for Forensic Purposes.

In forensic laboratories, the most commonly analyzed microtraces are microscopic fragments of single fibers. One of the main goals of the examination of fragments of fibers a few millimeters long is to determine their characteristic physicochemical properties and compare them with fibers originating from a known source (e.g.

A new approach for the extraction of tetracyclines from soil matrices: application of the microwave-extraction technique.

The widespread use of tetracyclines (TCs) in animal husbandry is associated with their constant penetration into the environment and the threat they might pose to living organisms. While the literature data on the analysis of these substances in such matrices as food, tissues, or wastewater are quite extensive, there are still only a few methods presented for the determination of these compounds in soil samples. Moreover, among the literature methods for the extraction of TCs from soil samples, microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MAE) was used only once and in combination with liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (LC-UV).

Effects of five sulphonamides on duckweed (Lemna minor) after prolonged exposure time and their dependency on photoradiation.

Sulphonamides (SAs) are one of the most commonly used veterinary drugs and therefore their residues are regularly found in the environment. So far scientific attention has mostly been paid to the evaluation of their acute ecotoxicological effects with data on long-term effects for non-target organisms still largely missing. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicities of five sulphonamides to duckweed (Lemna minor) after prolonged exposure time (14days).

Assessment of soils contamination with veterinary antibiotic residues in Northern Poland using developed MAE-SPE-LC/MS/MS methods.

Among the wide range of compounds reaching the soil are the veterinary antimicrobials. Since no regulations regarding acceptable levels of drug concentrations in the environment exist, monitoring tests, particularly concerning soils, are carried out very rarely. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the contamination of agricultural soils in Northern Poland with seven antimicrobial veterinary medicines which has never been carried out before.

Ultimate biodegradability and ecotoxicity of orally administered antidiabetic drugs.

Hypoglycaemic pharmaceuticals are recently more and more frequently detected in the environment. In our previous study, we have shown that even though many of them undergo significant primary degradation some are transformed to stable products or undergo such transformation that a large part of the structure is still preserved. One of the main routes of elimination from wastewaters or surface waters is biodegradation and a lack thereof leads to accumulation in the environment.

Impact of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals on the Agricultural Environment: A Re-inspection.

The use of veterinary pharmaceuticals (VPs) is a result of growing animal production. Manure, a great crop fertilizer, contains a significant amount of VPs. The investigation of VPs in manure is prevalent, because of the potential risk for environmental organisms, as well as human health.

Primary degradation of antidiabetic drugs.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease affecting a large portion of the world population and is treated by orally administered drugs. Since these drugs are often taken in high doses and are excreted unchanged or partially metabolised many of them are nowadays detected in surface waters or wastewater treatment plants effluents. Unmetabolised antidiabetics or some of their transformation products retain their pharmacological activity, therefore their presence in the environment is highly undesired.