Simultaneous adsorption of amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin on agricultural soils and by-products used as bio-adsorbents: Unraveling the interactions in complex systems.

The presence of pharmaceuticals in agricultural soils, like amoxicillin (AMX) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), poses a significant environmental challenge with potential implications for ecosystems and human well-being. This study explores the simultaneous adsorption of AMX and CIP on crop soils and bio-adsorbents, focusing on competitive adsorption dynamics. Tests were conducted with varying pharmaceutical concentrations in six soils and three bio-adsorbents.

Azithromycin removal using pine bark, oak ash and mussel shell.

Adsorption is considered an interesting option for removing antibiotics from the environment because of its simple design, low cost, and potential efficiency. In this work we evaluated three by-products (pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell) as bio-adsorbents for the antibiotic azithromycin (AZM). Furthermore, they were added at doses of 48 t ha to four different soils, then comparing AZM removal for soils with and without bio-adsorbents.

Simultaneous adsorption of ciprofloxacin and Cu using Fe and N co-doped biochar: Competition and selective separation.

The treatment of combined antibiotics and heavy metals pollution is a critical challenge. Herein, iron and nitrogen co-doped biochar (Fe/N-BC) was synthesized using rape straw as precursor, and applied for the adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Cu in single and binary systems. The q for CIP and Cu were 46.

Fate of selenium in a Se-enriched region of North China: Translocation, bioaccumulation, source, and health benefits.

There are limited studies on the translocation and bioaccumulation of selenium (Se) in weak alkaline cultivated Se-enriched soil, and the sources and speciation of Se in wheat grains remain unclear. In this study, we measured the Se levels in soils, roots, stems, and wheat grains from Se-enriched cultivated land in Ci County, China, which has a high incidence of esophageal cancer. The Se levels in the roots were higher than those in the soils, indicating that wheat plants bioaccumulated high concentrations of Se from the soil (enrichment coefficient [EC] range from the soil to the root: 0.

Soil science and environmental research.

As indicated in the call for papers posted for this Special Issue, Soil Science deals with various environmental compartments, so it is closely related to Environmental Research. It is clear that synergisms and collaboration are keys to reach the most fruitful relations among different sciences and scientists, and especially in all that focused on the Environment. In this line, considering Soil Science, Environmental Research, and the multiple and complex eventual combinations involving them, could give new highly interesting works focused on any of the specific subjects covered, as well as on relations among these sciences.

Quantification of ternary microplastic mixtures through an ultra-compact near-infrared spectrometer coupled with chemometric tools.

The ubiquitous distribution of plastics and microplastics (MPs) and their resistance to biological and chemical decay is adversely affecting the environment. MPs are considered as emerging contaminants of concern in all the compartments, including terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric environments. Efficient monitoring, detection, and removal technologies require reliable methods for a qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs, considering point-of-need testing a new evolution and a great trend at the market level.

Physically separated soil organic matter pools as indicators of carbon and nitrogen change under long-term fertilization in a Chinese Mollisol.

Isolation and quantification of soil organic matter (SOM) pools under the influence of management practices is needed for assessing the changes in soil fertility. However, the knowledge on how the active, slow and passive pools of SOM respond to long-term fertilization is scarce. Therefore, the present study was designed to isolate the active, slow, and passive pools of soil organic matter through physical fractionation under long-term fertilization.

Scientific evidence on the origin of SARS-CoV-2.

Even reaching the end of the year 2022, there is still a controversy on the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This Virtual Special Issue (VSI), focused on the "Scientific evidence on the origin of SARS-CoV-2", was launched some months ago with the aim of stimulating the submission of new high quality scientific research papers on the matter, to shed light on it. As indicated in the call for papers, the Editors involved in the VSI were aware of the difficulties of presenting concluding facts on that issue, however, bearing in mind that some teams of researchers had started investigations regarding this subject, a VSI like this (searching for stimulating the scientific controversy while requiring scientific evidence), could help to elucidate complicated aspects, going a step ahead in this way.

New data on microorganisms in soil and other environmental compartments.

As indicated in the presentation of this Virtual Special Issue (VSI), as well as in its Call for Papers, the occurrence, fate, dynamics, effects and overall repercussions of the enormous variety of microorganisms present in soils and other environmental compartments on Earth, is of huge importance, and particularly it is fundamental to the conditioning of life and even to the time-course evolution of non-living constituents of our planet. With that in mind, shedding further light on some selected fields within this broad spectrum of research themes could be seen as an ambitious objective, but achievable when limited to progressing just a few steps forward, even if the long-term aim could be to reach a final and complete characterization and solution of all issues related to these broad lines of research and fields of knowledge. In view of this, the Editors of the Special Issue made a specific Call to receive contributions to increase the knowledge on the matter, which could stimulate future additional research.

Influence of pH on the adsorption-desorption of doxycycline, enrofloxacin, and sulfamethoxypyridazine in soils with variable surface charge.

In this research, the adsorption/desorption of the antibiotics doxycycline (DC), enrofloxacin (ENR), and sulfamethoxypyradazine (SMP) was studied in 6 agricultural soils with predominance of variable charge, both before and after removing organic matter by calcination. DC adsorption was high at acidic pH, and decreased at pH values above 8. Removal of organic matter with calcination caused just a slight decrease in adsorption, and even in some soils adsorption was similar to that in non-calcined samples.

The environment, epidemics, and human health.

In this editorial piece, the Editors of the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "The environment, epidemics, and human health" comment on the papers accepted for publication, which were selected after peer-reviewing among all those manuscripts submitted to the Special Issue. In view of the title of the VSI, it is clear that its aim goes beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, trying to explore relations among environmental aspects, any kind of epidemics, and human health. However, COVID-19 is still hitting as a global and current main issue, causing that manuscripts dealing with this disease and the SARS-CoV-2 virus are of high relevance in the whole set of research papers published.

Competitive adsorption and desorption of tetracycline and sulfadiazine in crop soils.

In view of the environmental issues caused by antibiotics, this research studies competitive adsorption/desorption for tetracycline (TC) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) in agricultural soils. Competitive adsorption was studied in binary systems (adding equal concentrations of both antibiotics). In addition, it was compared with results from simple systems.

A green method for removing chromium (VI) from aqueous systems using novel silicon nanoparticles: Adsorption and interaction mechanisms.

In the present study, we used the horsetail plant (Equisetum arvense) as a green source to synthesize silicon nanoparticles (GS-SiNPs), considering that it could be an effective adsorbent for removing chromium (Cr (VI)) from aqueous solutions. The characterization of GS-SiNPs was performed via Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The batch test results of Cr (VI) adsorption on GS-SiNPs showed a high adsorption capacity, reaching 87.

Potential of low-cost bio-adsorbents to retain amoxicillin in contaminated water.

Sewage sludge as agricultural amendment is the main route of human-medicine antibiotics to enter soils. When reaching environmental compartments, these compounds can cause significant risks to human and ecological health. Specifically, the antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) is highly used in medicine, and the fact that more than 80% of the total ingested is excreted increases the chances of causing serious environmental and public health problems.

New trends on green energy and environmental technologies, with special focus on biomass valorization, water and waste recycling: editorial of the special issue.

In this editorial piece, the Editors of the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "New Trends on Green Energy and Environmental Technologies, with Special Focus on Biomass Valorization, Water and Waste Recycling", present summarized data corresponding to the accepted submissions, as well as additional comments regarding the thematic of the VSI. Overall, 83 manuscripts were received, with final publication of those having the highest quality, accepted after peer-reviewing. The Editors think that the result is a set of very interesting papers that increase the knowledge on the matter, and which would be useful for researchers and the whole society.

Heavy metals pollution characteristics and risk assessment in sediments and waters: The case of Tianjin, China.

Potential health and ecological risks due to heavy metal pollution in surface waters and sediments were evaluated based on a health risk assessment model and a potential ecological risk index method. Combined with the reclamation progress of Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone, in China, a survey was carried out in the area dealing with heavy metals concentrations in surface waters and sediments, covering from 2008 to 2018. Specifically, concentrations were determined for As, Cd, Hg, Cu, Pb, and Zn.

Supramolecular assemblies working as both artificial light-harvesting system and nanoreactor for efficient organic dehalogenation in aqueous environment.

In this work, three artificial light-harvesting systems are constructed by a supramolecular approach in aqueous environment. The water-soluble bipyridinium derivatives (DPY1, DPY2, and DPY3) were self-assembled with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) to form the host-guest DPY-CB[7] complexes, which can highly disperse in water as small nanoparticles. The excited DPY-CB[7] assemblies can transfer energy to the sulfo-rhodamine 101 (SR101) molecules at a high donor/acceptor ratio.

Relevance of sorption in bio-reduction of amoxicillin taking place in forest and crop soils.

The fate of antibiotics reaching soils is a matter of concern, given its potential repercussions on public health and the environment. In this work, the potential bio-reduction of the antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX), affected by sorption and desorption, is studied for 17 soils with clearly different characteristics. To carry out these studies, batch-type tests were performed, adding increasing concentrations of AMX (0, 2.

The impact of pristine and modified rice straw biochar on the emission of greenhouse gases from a red acidic soil.

With the growing awareness of environmental impacts of land degradation, pressure is mounting to improve the health and productivity of degrading soils, which could be achieved through the use of raw and modified biochar materials. The primary objective of the current study was to investigate the efficiency of pristine and Mg-modified rice-straw biochar (RBC and MRBC) for the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and improvement of soil properties. A 90 days' incubation experiment was conducted using treatments which included control (CK), two RBC dosages (1% and 2.

Stability of soil organic carbon under long-term fertilization: Results from C NMR analysis and laboratory incubation.

Long-term fertilization has shown a high relevance as regards soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but the degree of stability of the sequestered SOC has not been widely studied up to now. Using physical fractionation combined with laboratory incubation and NMR spectroscopy, we evaluated the differences in SOC stability caused by long-term fertilization. Four SOC fractions were isolated and examined for contents and chemical composition and cumulative amount of CO-C respired from the fractions under six fertilization treatments: control (CK); balanced inorganic fertilization (NPK); NPK combined with pig manure (MNPK); NPK combined 1.

Boron application mitigates Cd toxicity in leaves of rice by subcellular distribution, cell wall adsorption and antioxidant system.

Cadmium (Cd) is a hazardous heavy metal and some of its negative effects include inhibition of rice growth, while also accumulates in the rice grains. Boron (B) has been implicated in mitigating Cd toxicity. Nevertheless, a few studies have been performed up to now to evaluate whether B could encourage Cd tolerance in rice by regulating Cd adsorption on cell walls (CW) in leaves of rice.

TiO/g-CN photocatalyst for the purification of potassium butyl xanthate in mineral processing wastewater.

In the present work, TiO-graphite-phase-carbon-nitride (TiO/g-CN) was prepared through a hydrothermal method to obtain a new photocatalytic material. This material was characterized by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray energy spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Solid-state UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrometry (UV-Vis-DRS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The synthesized TiO/g-CN exhibited homogeneous morphology, in which TiO nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the g-CN nanosheets.

Biomass-derived N,S co-doped 3D multichannel carbon supported Au@Pd@Pt catalysts for oxygen reduction.

A beancurd-derived mesoporous carbon (NSC) was prepared by an environmentally friendly procedure, and then it was investigated as Au@Pd@Pt core-shell catalysts support (Au@Pd@Pt-NSC) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The Au@Pd@Pt-NSC (E = 0.91 V) has a marginally negative ORR half-wave potential compared with other materials, in particular Pt/C (E = 0.

New research on reduction and/or elimination of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products.

The Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "New research on reduction and/or elimination of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products" was initially associated to the "International Conference on Green Chemistry and Sustainable Engineering, GreenChem-20" that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyway, the international conference will take place in the near future. However, the VSI was maintained in this journal, received a high number of submissions, and selected manuscripts have been accepted after peer-reviewing.

SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic microorganisms in the environment.

The title of the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic microorganisms in the environment", clearly indicates a main focus not only on the virus causing the current pandemic, but also on other pathogenic microorganisms and their spatial and temporal dynamics in environmental compartments. Overall, the VSI has received more than 100 submissions relating to most of the possible fields connected to the pandemic, many of them of high scientific value. A rigorous peer-reviewing process has been carried out, with a panel of experts making a great work to evaluate that important number of submissions.