The Photocatalytic Degradation of Enrofloxacin Using an Ecofriendly Natural Iron Mineral: The Relationship Between the Degradation Routes, Generated Byproducts, and Antimicrobial Activity of Treated Solutions.

The use of ecofriendly natural minerals in photocatalytic processes to deal with the antimicrobial activity (AA) associated with antibiotics in aqueous systems is still incipient. Therefore, in this work, the capacity of a natural iron material (NIM) in photo-treatments, generating reactive species, to remove the antibiotic enrofloxacin and decrease its associated AA from water is presented. Initially, the fundamental composition, oxidation states, bandgap, point of zero charge, and morphological characteristics of the NIM were determined, denoting the NIM's feasibility for photocatalytic processes.

Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Control of the Composting Process of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste: A Pilot-Scale Experience.

The aim of this work was to carry out a pilot experiment to monitor OFMSW (organic fraction of municipal solid waste) composting processes using different types of installations (automatic reactor, aerated static pile and turned pile). To carry out the process, pruning waste was used as structuring material (SM), in a 1:1 and 1:2, :, OFMSW:SM ratio. Monitoring was carried out through the control of physico-chemical and microbiological parameters, such as temperature, pH, humidity, Rottegrade, Solvita tests, the presence of sp.

Photoactivation and photoregeneration of TiO2/PAC mixture applied in suspension in water treatments: approach to a real application.

The process TiO/PAC/UV-vis has been under study and compared with the isolated treatments of adsorption and photocatalysis determining possible synergies between adsorption and photocatalysis of target antibiotics: amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, sulfadiazine, and trimethoprim. The characterization of the TiO2/PAC mixture was carried out via FESEM and FTIR. Moreover, a kinetic study has been performed.

Antibiotics removal from aquatic environments: adsorption of enrofloxacin, trimethoprim, sulfadiazine, and amoxicillin on vegetal powdered activated carbon.

This study addresses the growing concern about the high levels of antibiotics in water, outlining an alternative for their removal. The adsorption of four representative antibiotics from commonly used families (fluoroquinolones, β-lactams, trimethoprim, and sulfonamides) was performed over vegetal powdered activated carbon. The evolution of the adsorption was studied during 60 min for different initial antibiotic concentrations, not only individually but also simultaneously to determine competitive adsorption.

Study of Evolution of Microbiological Properties in Sewage Sludge-Amended Soils: A Pilot Experience.

Large amounts of sewage sludge are generated in urban wastewater treatment plants and used as fertilizer in agriculture due to its characteristics. They can contain contaminants such as heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms. The objective of this research work is to study, in real conditions, the evolution of microbial concentration in agricultural soils fertilized by biologically treated sewage sludge.

Comparative adsorption of ciprofloxacin on sugarcane bagasse from Ecuador and on commercial powdered activated carbon.

This work examined the adsorption capacity of sugarcane bagasse (SB) for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CPX) from water using batch experiments and a fixed bed column and compared its adsorption performance with a powdered activated commercial carbon (PAC). Both adsorbents achieved a similar percentage removal of about 78% with doses of 3 g L of SB and 0.3 g L of PAC (20 mg L initial CPX concentration at 30 °C).

Identification of free-living amoebas and amoeba-resistant bacteria accumulated in Dreissena polymorpha.

To identify the free-living amoeba (FLA) and amoeba-resistant bacteria (ARB) accumulated in zebra mussels and in the water in which they are found, mussels were collected at two locations in the Ebro river basin (North East Spain). FLAs and bacteria were isolated from mussel extracts and from natural water. PCR techniques were used to identify the FLAs and endosymbiont bacteria (Legionella, Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas and cyanobacteria), and to detect Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

Electrochemical oxidation of butyl paraben on boron doped diamond in environmental matrices and comparison with sulfate radical-AOP.

The electrochemical oxidation (EO) of butyl paraben (BP) over boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode was studied in this work. Emphasis was put on degradation performance in various actual water matrices, including secondary treated wastewater (WW), bottled water (BW), surface water (SW), ultrapure water (UW), and ultrapure water spiked with humic acid (HA). Experiments were performed utilizing 0.

Seeking the reuse of effluents and sludge from conventional wastewater treatment plants: Analysis of the presence of intestinal protozoa and nematode eggs.

Some of the microorganisms present in urban wastewater, which include intestinal protozoa and nematodes, can be pathogenic. Their (oo)cyst and egg transmissible stages are very resistant to environmental stresses and disinfectants and they are therefore difficult to remove. Thus, they can constitute a health risk if water or sludge obtained in the purification of wastewater is reused for agricultural purposes.

Performance comparison of commercial TiO: separation and reuse for bacterial photo-inactivation and emerging pollutants photo-degradation.

This research aims to compare the disinfection and degradation effectiveness in water of a commercial suspension of nano-TiO (TiOLevenger) with the standard TiODegussa P25. Photo-inactivation and photo-degradation experiments were conducted with UVA-vis light. Concerning the disinfection, the effects of TiO dose (0-2 g/l), water matrix, bacterium type (Gram-positive or Gram-negative), and bacterial regrowth after the photo-treatments were studied for each catalyst.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for Staphylococcus aureus disinfection in municipal WWTP effluents.

This paper presents the Staphylococcus aureus inactivation in a simulated wastewater treatment plant effluent by different electrochemical techniques, including the photo-electro-Fenton process. S. aureus, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total oxidants and HO concentrations, as well as pH, were monitored during the assays.

Synergistic effect of the presence of suspended and dissolved matter on the removal of cyanide from coking wastewater by TiO photocatalysis.

This study assesses the influence of the presence of suspended and dissolved matter on the efficiency of TiO photocatalysis for the removal of cyanide from coking wastewater. Photocatalytic processes were carried out at basic pH (pH 9) with titanium dioxide (1 g/L), artificial radiation (290-800 nm) and during different time periods (20-100 min). The first assays applied in aqueous solutions achieved promising results in terms of removing cyanide.

Combined photo-fenton-SBR processes for the treatment of wastewater from the citrus processing industry.

In this study, the photo-Fenton process was combined with a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the treatment of synthetic samples of citrus wastewater (CWW). An experimental design based on the surface response methodology was applied to assess the individual and combined effects of several operating parameters (CODinitial, Fe3(+) concentration and H2O2 concentration) on the photo-Fenton treatment efficiency (DOC removal) with the aim of optimizing the process. The experimental results obtained under optimal conditions for CWW with high CODinitial (10000 mgO2/L) showed a partial degradation of organic matter of around of 61% (measured as DOC).

Sediment quality evolution (2001-2011) in the Ebro River basin (Spain).

Spatio-temporal variations in sediment quality (20 sample sites) of the Ebro River basin between 2001 and 2011 have been assessed. The self-organizing map classified the sediment samples according to similarities in their chemical compositions. Its powerful visualization tools helped establish the main pollution contribution on each sample.

Potential risk assessment of trace elements and PAHs in sediment samples of the Ebro River basin (Spain).

This study was carried out in order to assess potential toxicity of hazardous pollutants (8 trace elements and 8 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in 20 sediment samples of the Ebro River basin (Spain) sampled in 2009. Mean-probable effect concentration quotient (m-PECQ) was found to range from 0.03 to 0.

Potential toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in sediments from the Ebro River basin in Spain.

This study was carried out to estimate the potential toxicity of 8 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 5 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments in the Ebro River Basin (20 sampling points) according to different methodologies. Detection limit (DL) concentrations were used for compounds reported below the DL (worst-case scenario). The majority of PAH concentrations were found to be below their method detection limit.

Evaluation of trihalomethane formation potential in function of oxidation processes used during the drinking water production process.

The presence of natural organic matter (NOM) in both surface and groundwater supplies produces toxic by-products, mainly trihalomethanes (THMs), during oxidation steps in drinking water production. This research work shows the efficiency of different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on ozone for the degradation of precursors of trihalomethanes in aqueous solutions. Completed treatments comprised different preoxidation processes (chlorination and AOP: O(3), O(3)/H(2)O(2), O(3)/TiO(2) and O(3)/H(2)O(2)/TiO(2)), adsorption with PAC (optional operation), coagulation-flocculation and final postchlorination applied to synthetic samples which were prepared by dilution of the soluble fraction of a humic solution.

Sequential solar photo-fenton-biological system for the treatment of winery wastewaters.

In this study, winery wastewaters are considered for degradation using heterogeneous photo-Fenton as a preliminary step before biotreatment. The heterogeneous photo-Fenton process assisted by solar light is able to partially degrade the organic matter present in winery wastewaters. When an initial hydrogen peroxide concentration of 0.