Fluoxetine and Nutrients Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Phycoremediation.

The tertiary treatment using microalgae offers an attractive alternative to the removal of low but relevant concentrations of pharmaceuticals from domestic wastewaters. The removal of fluoxetine from aqueous solutions by living and non-living (lyophilized) was assessed. The determination of the pH at the point of zero charge, Fourier transmittance infrared analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to characterize the microalgae biomass.

Vermiculite as a potential functional additive for water treatment bioreactors inhibiting toxic action of heavy metal cations upsetting the microbial balance.

A new adsorbent that combines mineral vermiculite with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was used for Cd removal. The influence of vermiculite presence on the toxic effects of Cd to Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast was evaluated as a function of the microorganisms' respiratory activity (CO production). The Cd toxicity increased with prolonged exposure time reaching the LC value of 857 and 489 mg L after 30 and 120 min, respectively.

Fluoxetine Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Lignocellulosic Substrate Colonized by the White-Rot Fungus .

One of the main challenges in both the design of new wastewater treatment plants and the expansion and improvement of existing ones is the removal of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the search for economic and sustainable treatments is needed to enhance the removal of pharmaceuticals. The potential of a lignocellulosic substrate colonized by , a waste from mushroom production, to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions was studied.

Green Microalgae Utilization for the Adsorptive Removal of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) from Water Samples.

In view of the valorisation of the green microalga biomass, it was used for the biosorption of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, namely salicylic acid and ibuprofen, from water. Microalgae biomass was characterized, namely by the determination of the point of zero charge (pH), by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Kinetic and equilibrium batch experiments were carried out and results were found to fit the pseudo-second order equation and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively.

Application of vermiculite-derived sustainable adsorbents for removal of venlafaxine.

Removal of emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, from wastewater is a challenge. Adsorption is a simple and efficient process that can be applied. Clays, which are natural and low-cost materials, have been investigated as adsorbent.

Acid-base treated vermiculite as high performance adsorbent: Insights into the mechanism of cationic dyes adsorption, regeneration, recyclability and stability studies.

Additional treatment with NaOH of acid activated vermiculite results in even higher increase in the adsorption capacity in comparison to samples modified only in acidic solution (first step of activation) with respect to raw material. Optimization of treatment conditions and adsorption capacity for two cationic dyes (methylene blue (MB) and astrazon red (AR)), also as binary mixture, was evaluated. The capacity, based on column studies, increased from 48 ± 2 to 203 ± 4 mg g in the case of methylene blue and from 51 ± 1 to 127 ± 2 mg g in the case of astrazon red on starting and acid-base treated material, respectively.

Simultaneous removal of dyes and metal cations using an acid, acid-base and base modified vermiculite as a sustainable and recyclable adsorbent.

The aim of this work was the modification of vermiculite in order to produce a low cost, efficient and sustainable adsorbent for dyes and metals. Three activation methods consisting of acid, base and combined acid/base treatment were applied to improve the of vermiculite's adsorption properties. Adsorbents were tested in single, bi- and tricomponent solutions containing cationic dyes and Cu cations.

The influence of acid treatments over vermiculite based material as adsorbent for cationic textile dyestuffs.

The influence of different acid treatments over vermiculite was evaluated. Equilibrium, kinetic and column studies have been conducted. The results showed that vermiculite first treated with nitric acid and then with citric acid has higher adsorption capacity, presenting maximum adsorption capacities in column experiments: for Astrazon Red (AR), 100.

Optimization of Cu(II) biosorption onto Ascophyllum nodosum by factorial design methodology.

A Box-Behnken factorial design coupled with surface response methodology was used to evaluate the effects of temperature, pH and initial concentration in the Cu(II) sorption process onto the marine macro-algae Ascophyllum nodosum. The effect of the operating variables on metal uptake capacity was studied in a batch system and a mathematical model showing the influence of each variable and their interactions was obtained. Study ranges were 10-40 degrees C for temperature, 3.

Removal of Cd(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by brown marine macro algae: kinetic modelling.

Specific marine macro algae species abundant at the Portuguese coast (Laminaria hyperborea, Bifurcaria bifurcata, Sargassum muticum and Fucus spiralis) were shown to be effective for removing toxic metals (Cd(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II)) from aqueous solutions. The initial metal concentrations in solution were about 75-100 mg L(-1). The observed biosorption capacities for cadmium, zinc and lead ions were in the ranges of 23.