Municipal sewage sludge, a by-product of wastewater treatment plants, presents environmental challenges due to its complex composition. Particular concern is the lipophilic and aliphatic compounds that pose risks to the environment and human health. This study focuses on the efficient removal of those compounds from sewage sludge using several organic solvents (hexane, toluene, chloroform, dichloromethane, acetone, hexane-methanol mixture, ethanol, and methanol) and ionic liquids (ILs) like tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate by solvent extraction techniques. To determine optimal conditions, various factors such as solvent types, contact time, and temperature were examined. The results reveal that solvent polarity significantly impacts extract composition, with non-polar solvents like hexane and toluene yielding profiles characteristic of lipid-type compounds. An in-depth analysis of contaminants present in the sewage sludge was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to identify the extracted compounds, including triglycerides, aliphatic esters, aliphatic alcohols, and free carboxylic acids. NMR provides data on the composition of the sewage sludge and indicates that among all the solvents used, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride was the most suitable solvent for removing lipophilic and aliphatic compounds. Regeneration potential and reusability of the IL were conducted and verified by NMR. The results showed that tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride ionic liquid could be used for several extraction cycles. Identifying these compounds in the extracted mixture demonstrates that it adds value and potential for various applications. Towards environmental sustainability and circular economy, this effort develops strategies for the safe management, disposal, and recyclability of sewage sludge and, the reduction in environmental and health hazards associated with organic compounds.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40749 | DOI Listing |
Microbiol Spectr
January 2025
Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA.
Unlabelled: Testing for the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been crucial in tracking disease spread and informing public health decisions. Wastewater-based epidemiology has helped to alleviate some of the strain of testing through broader, population-level surveillance, and has been applied widely on college campuses. However, questions remain about the impact of various sampling methods, target types, environmental factors, and infrastructure variables on SARS-CoV-2 detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuro Surveill
January 2025
Department for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Warsaw, Poland.
In October and December 2024, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was detected from two wastewater samples in Poland during routine environmental surveillance. The first isolate was characterised and matched previous cVDPV2 isolates detected in Spain in September, as well as in Germany, Finland, and the United Kingdom in November and December 2024. In response to the event, active surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) has been strengthened, and the frequency of environmental sample collection has been increased.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China. Electronic address:
Composting urban and rural wastes into organic fertilizers for land application is considered the best way to dispose of and recycle waste resources. However, there are some concerns about the long-term effects of applying various organic fertilizers on soils, food safety, and health risks derived from heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). A long-term field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous application of chicken manure compost (CM), sewage sludge compost (SSC), and domestic waste compost (DWC) for wheat on the accumulation, transfer, and health risks of HMs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Grupo de Investigación Materiales con Impacto (Mat&mpac) Universidad de Medellín, Medellín, Colombia.
In this study, we utilized drinking water treatment sludge (WTS) to produce adsorbents through the drying and calcination process. These adsorbents were then evaluated for their ability to remove azithromycin (AZT) from aqueous solutions. The L-500 adsorbent, derived from the calcination (at 500°C) of WTS generated under conditions of low turbidity in the drinking water treatment plant, presented an increase in the specific surface area from 70.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Geochem Health
January 2025
Soil and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt.
Fusarium solani biomass plays a significant role in water pollution remediation due to its ability to sequester heavy metals, particularly cobalt (Co(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)), which pose severe environmental and health risks. This study aimed to identify fungi from sewage-contaminated sites and evaluate their efficiency in absorbing and reducing Co(II) and Cd(II) ions. The biosorption potential of irradiated Fusarium solani biomass for removing Co(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated.
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