Alginate/clinoptilolite beads as a novel adsorbent for reducing the salinity of industrial wastewater: adsorption kinetics and isotherm study.

Treatment and desalination of unconventional water are considered important alternatives to combat water scarcity in Tunisia. This study demonstrates a viable approach to the increasing possibility of the salinity reduction of industrial effluent through adsorption. In this work, a novel alginate complex was developed for reducing the salinity of the industrial wastewater to be reinjected and reused again within the industrial process and even in agriculture.

Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Group Bacteria Isolated from the Dairy Farm Environment and Raw Milk in Tunisia.

Members of the group are well-known opportunistic foodborne pathogens. In this study, the prevalence, hemolytic activity, antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence factor genes, genetic diversity by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping, and adhesion potential were investigated in isolates from a Tunisian dairy farm environment and raw milk. A total of 200 samples, including bedding, feces, feed, liquid manure, and raw bovine milk, were examined.

Laser-induced porous graphene electrodes from polyketimine membranes for paracetamol sensing.

The development of cost-effective materials for fabricating electrodes is crucial for drug, pharmaceutical and environmental applications. This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of a novel polyketimine (PKI) membrane obtained by condensing partially of different weight percentages of oxidized polyvinyl alcohol and aminated polyether sulfone. Using the PKI membrane as a scaffold, we introduced laser-induced graphene electrodes (LIGEs) for the efficient electrochemical sensing of paracetamol (PCM), which serves as a model drug.

Laser-induced graphene electrodes scribed onto novel carbon black-doped polyethersulfone membranes for flexible high-performance microsupercapacitors.

A facile and expandable methodology was successfully developed to fabricate laser-induced graphene from novel pristine aminated polyethersulfone (amPES) membranes. The as-prepared materials were applied as flexible electrodes for microsupercapacitors. The doping of amPES membranes with various weight percentages of carbon black (CB) microparticles was then performed to improve their energy storage performance.

Tomato waste biochar in the framework of circular economy.

Tomato pomace was slowly pyrolyzed at 350 and 550 °C (under an N flow of 50 L/h) at a rate of 6 °C/min and a residence time of 1:30 h to produce two biochars named B350 and B550, respectively. In addition, the two biochars were chemically activated with ΚΟΗ (at a ratio of 1:10 w/v) at 800 °C to produce two new materials named BA350 and BA550. The four biochars produced were characterized physically and chemically (pH, yield, calorific value).

Chitosan-Functionalized Hydroxyapatite-Cerium Oxide Heterostructure: An Efficient Adsorbent for Dyes Removal and Antimicrobial Agent.

The current research intended to employ a facile and economical process, which is also ecofriendly to transform camel waste bones into novel heterostructure for cleansing of diverse waste waters. The bones of camel were utilized for preparation of hydroxyapatite by hydrothermal method. The prepared hydroxyapatite was applied to the synthesis of cerium oxide-hydroxyapatite coated with natural polymer chitosan (CS-HAP-CeO) heterostructure.

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by olive mill wastes derived biochar: Batch experiments and geochemical modelling.

In this study, lead removal from aqueous solutions using biochar derived from olive mill solid and liquid wastes has been investigated by applying batch experiments and geochemical modelling. The batch adsorption experiments included the assessment of several key parameters such as the contact time (kinetic), initial concentration (isotherm), pH, adsorbent dose, and the presence of competitive cations, whilst the geochemical modelling focused on the involved adsorption mechanisms using the PHREEQC code. The kinetic studies showed that lead adsorption is a relatively fast process, where intraparticle diffusion is the rate-limiting step.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesis using plant extract and evaluation of their antibacterial effects on Streptococcus mutans.

Dental decay is known in the world as the most common human infectious disease. Ascending process of dental caries index in the world shows the failure of oral disease prevention. Streptococcus mutans bacteria cause acid damage and tooth decay by producing acid over time.

The dairy biorefinery: Integrating treatment process for Tunisian cheese whey valorization.

In order to set up a cost-efficient biorefinery in a Tunisian dairy industry, the production unit effluents are recovered. The main objective is to develop an optimum method for the production of bioethanol from whey. An energy analysis as well as environmental and economic analyses are performed for a bioethanol production plant.

Antibacterial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants in Al Baha Region, Saudi Arabia, Against Carcinogenic Bacteria Related to Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Background: Gastrointestinal cancers are the most dangerous cancers all over the world. The gut microbiota dysbiosis increases the risk of GI cancers and induces the host's susceptibility to carcinogenic bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is rising in these bacteria.

Recent advancements on biochars enrichment with ammonium and nitrates from wastewaters: A critical review on benefits for environment and agriculture.

During the last decade, biochars have been considered as attractive and eco-friendly materials with various applications including wastewater treatment, energy production and soil amendments. However, the important nitrogen losses during biochars production using the pyrolysis process have limited their potential use in agriculture as biofertilizer. Therefore, it seems necessary to enrich these biochars with nitrogen sources before their use in agricultural soils.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract for Their Enhanced Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Biocompatibility Applications.

Herein, we report the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (OE-Ag NPs) by ecofriendly green processes using biological molecules of leaf extract. Green synthesized OE-Ag NPs were successfully characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. Antibacterial activity of OE-Ag NPs was assessed against four different bacteriological strains using the dilution serial method.

Green Synthesis of Chromium Oxide Nanoparticles for Antibacterial, Antioxidant Anticancer, and Biocompatibility Activities.

This study deals with the green synthesis of chromium oxide (CrO) nanoparticles using a leaf extract of (L.) Sweet as a reducing and capping agent. Different characterization techniques were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy.

Optimization of hybrid treatment of olive mill wastewaters through impregnation onto raw cypress sawdust and electrocoagulation.

This research investigation proposes a new method for sustainable olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment and handling. It is based on the combination of its impregnation onto raw cypress sawdust (RCS) followed by electrocoagulation. The retention of OMW compounds onto various RCS doses show an important decrease of its chemical oxygen demand (COD) and its main cation and anion content.

Wild edible Swiss chard leaves (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla): Nutritional, phytochemical composition and biological activities.

Nutritional, soluble carbohydrates and aroma volatile profiles of Tunisian wild Swiss chard leaves (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) have been characterized.

Phosphorus and ammonium removal characteristics from aqueous solutions by a newly isolated plant growth-promoting bacterium.

An indigenous plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from rhizosphere in the arid ecosystem was found to solubilize and accumulate phosphates. This isolate was identified as . (PHR6) by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Effects of short- and long-term exposures of humic acid on the Anammox activity and microbial community.

Humic acid has a controversial effect on the biological treatment processes. Here, we have investigated humic acid effects on the Anammox activity by studying the nitrogen removal efficiencies in batch and continuous conditions and analyzing the microbial community using Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The results showed that the Anammox activity was affected by the presence of humic acid at a concentration higher than 70 mg/L.

Extracellular enzymes and adhesive properties of medically important Candida spp. strains from landfill leachate.

The virulence properties of Candida spp. presents in landfill leachate still unknown until today and they constitutes a serious source of potential danger for humans. We investigate the antifungal susceptibility, production of hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation on polystyrene as well as glass in Candida spp.

Bioactivity and chemical characterization of Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm. seed oil: potential food and pharmaceutical applications.

In the food industry, there is a continuous search for ingredients that might provide advantageous properties to food products, either considering their nutritional value or bioactivity, as well as flavouring and technological aspects. Crude oils are good examples of this type of ingredient, especially if obtained from nonconventional sources. Accordingly, the Opuntia macrorhiza Engelm.

Investigations on phosphorus recovery from aqueous solutions by biochars derived from magnesium-pretreated cypress sawdust.

The ability of biochars, derived from the pyrolysis at 400 °C; 500 °C and 600 °C of pretreated cypress sawdust with 20 wt% magnesium chloride (MgCl) solutions, in recovering phosphorus from aqueous solutions was investigated under various experimental conditions in batch mode. The experimental results indicated that cypress sawdust pretreatment with MgCl induced important modifications of the physical and chemical biochars' properties favoring phosphorus recovery from the used synthetic solutions. Moreover, phosphorus recovery efficiency increased with the increase of the used pyrolysis temperature.

Alkaline-treated sawdust as an effective material for cationic dye removal from textile effluents under dynamic conditions: breakthrough curve prediction and mechanism exploration.

This paper deals with the methylene blue molecule (MB) removal from synthetic and real textile wastewaters by alkali-treated orange tree sawdust (ATOS) under different dynamic conditions. Experimental results showed that MB removal efficiencies by ATOS increased when increasing initial dye concentrations and bed depths but decreased with the increase of the applied flow rates with a maximum adsorption capacity of about 110 mg g. Moreover, various empirical models were applied to predict the experimental breakthrough curves (BTCs) and to determine the characteristic adsorption parameters.

Optimization of a cationic dye removal by a chemically modified agriculture by-product using response surface methodology: biomasses characterization and adsorption properties.

The present study investigates the alkaline modification of raw orange tree sawdust (ROS) for an optimal removal of methylene blue (MB), as a cationic dye model, from synthetic solutions. The effects of operating parameters, namely, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations, ROS doses in NaOH solutions, stirring times, and initial MB concentrations on dye removal efficiency, were followed in batch mode. The process optimization was performed through the response surface methodology approach (RSM) by using Minitab17 software.

Chemical composition and antibiofilm activity of Petroselinum crispum and Ocimum basilicum essential oils against Vibrio spp. strains.

In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of parsley and basilic essential oils tested against Vibrio strains and their abilities to inhibit and eradicate the mature biofilm using the XTT assay. Petroselinum crispum essential oil was characterized by 1,3,8-p-menthatriene (24.2%), β-phellandrene (22.