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Bruzzoniti MC, Tumiatti V, Quazzo A, Beldean-Galea MS, Del Bubba M, Rivoira L. Determination of persistent organic pollutants in urban and peri-urban wastewater sludge: environmental and carcinogenic human risk assessment in the case of land application. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34420-5. [PMID: 39039368 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34420-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The management of digested sludge derived from treatment water plants is a problem worldwide due to the possible transfer of contamination from sludge to amended soil and, in turn, to humans. Within this work, through a chemometric experimental design, a robust GC-MS method for the simultaneous determination of two classes of micropollutants of concern (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs-and polychlorinated biphenyls-PCBs-including dioxin-like compounds) was developed using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The method, which showed interesting greenness features in compliance with the 12 principles of Green Chemistry, allowed PCB and PAH extraction with recoveries higher than 75% (RSD < 14%) with method detection limits between 4.6 and 11.5 µg kg-1 (PAHs) and between 6.9 and 13.7 µg kg-1 (PCBs), without preconcentration. The matrix effect was below 20%. The validated protocol allowed the characterization of two digested sludges sampled in an urban and a peri-urban district, representative models of two scenarios of different anthropic impacts. This study highlighted higher contamination for the sludge derived from the urban area, accounted for by the 4-ring PAHs. In addition, since carcinogenic PAHs were detected, the environmental risk (by mean of the comparison of predicted vs predicted no-effect concentrations) and the carcinogenic human risk from dermal contact (through the calculation of the adsorbed lifetime average daily dose) were assessed in the case of soils amended with the sludges considered, pointing out that the measured concentrations do not pose a risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vander Tumiatti
- Sea Marconi Technologies, Via Ungheria 20, 10093, Collegno, Italy
| | - Armando Quazzo
- Società Metropolitana Acque Torino, SMAT, S.P.A. Corso XI, Febbraio 22, 10152, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Del Bubba
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Luca Rivoira
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 5, 10125, Turin, Italy
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Electrochemical sensors based on sewage sludge-derived biochar for the analysis of anthocyanins in berry fruits. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:6295-6307. [PMID: 35471251 PMCID: PMC9372006 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04062-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The reutilization of waste and the reduction of the general environmental impact of every production are fundamental goals that must be achieved in the framework of a circular economy. Recycled carbon-rich materials may represent a promising alternative to other less-sustainable carbonaceous materials used in the production of electrochemical sensing platforms. Herein, we propose an innovative carbon paste electrode (CPE) composed of biochar derived from biological sludge obtained from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. The physicochemical properties of the biochar after a chemical treatment with an acidic solution obtained from industrial by-products were investigated. The electrode surface characterization was carried out by analyzing common redox probes and multiple phenols bearing varying numbers of –OH and –OCH3 groups in their structure. Furthermore, the CPE was also tested on the evaluation of the phenolic fingerprints of Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum subsp. gaultherioides, and Fragaria × ananassa. Standard anthocyanin mixtures and extracts of the aforementioned fruits were analyzed to provide a phenolic characterization of real samples. The obtained results show that the sewage sludge–derived biochar can be a promising material for the development of electroanalytical sensors.
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Optimization and Validation of a Method Based on QuEChERS Extraction and Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Analysis for the Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Olive Fruits Irrigated with Treated Wastewaters. SEPARATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/separations9030082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The wastewater reuse is an important measure to face water shortage, thus improving the resilience of agricultural production chains. However, treated wastewater can contain residual organic micropollutants residues that may result in crop contamination. Among edible crops, olive is the most important agricultural product in the Mediterranean region. Methods to assess the contamination of organic micropollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in olives are poorly investigated. Given the complexity of olives, this study focused on the development and validation of a method for the simultaneous extraction of PAHs and PCBs from olives, and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection. Extraction was optimized through a QuEChERS protocol, studying the effect of the extraction solvent (CH2Cl2, cyclohexane, CH3CN) and of the dispersive-solid phase extraction (d-SPE) sorbent (octadecyl silica, Florisil, primary secondary amine, Z-Sep) on the recovery of micropollutants. The best recoveries (94–122%, relative standard deviations below 5%) were obtained using CH3CN/H2O and a double purification step with Z-Sep and Florisil. The method developed for PAHs and PCBs, which showed good intra-day (<2.7%) and inter-day (<2.9%) precision and low matrix effect (|ME| < 14%), was applied to the analysis of olives grown by irrigation with reclaimed wastewaters.
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Torrini F, Renai L, Scarano S, Del Bubba M, Palladino P, Minunni M. Colorimetric selective quantification of anthocyanins with catechol/pyrogallol moiety in edible plants upon zinc complexation. Talanta 2021; 240:123156. [PMID: 34942476 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Here is examined the colour development from common anthocyanins (i.e., cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, and pelargonidin glycosides) and from anthocyanins-rich extracts (i.e., bilberries, strawberries, and raspberries), using zinc-anthocyanin complexes as molecular probe. We have observed the absorbance increase in the blue region in presence of large excess of zinc ion at acidic pH for cyanidin and delphinidin derivatives, likely due to quinoidal base stabilization from catechol and pyrogallol moiety. The assay condition were studied and applied to natural extracts containing these compounds. The same behaviour was observed for bilberry and, to a minor extent, for raspberry extracts, due to the larger cyanidin/delphinidin contents in the former than in the latter. Anthocyanin standard UV-Vis analysis in buffer has shown a very good linear correlation for cyanidin and delphinidin (R2 = 0.995 and 0.997, respectively), good precision (CV% = 7.4% and 5.3% respectively), high sensitivity (Cyε600nm = 8300 M-1 cm-1, LOD = 0.264 ± 0.005 mg L-1, LOQ = 0.478 ± 0.007 mg L-1, and Dpε600nm = 15,900 M-1 cm-1, LOD = 0.143 ± 0.002 mg L-1, LOQ = 0.478 ± 0.007 mg L-1). The effectiveness of this colorimetric method for the selective quantification of catechol/pyrogallol-based anthocyanins has been demonstrated in the aforementioned complex real matrices and compared to LC-MS/MS analysis and pH-differential method, offering a valuable tool to characterize plant and food extracts particularly rich in zinc-coordinating anthocyanins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Torrini
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lapo Renai
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Simona Scarano
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Massimo Del Bubba
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Pasquale Palladino
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Maria Minunni
- Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Tozzi F, Renella G, Cristina M, Masciandaro G, Gonnelli C, Colzi I, Giagnoni L, Pecchioli S, Nin S, Giordani E. Agronomic performance and food safety of strawberry cultivated on a remediated sediment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148803. [PMID: 34265608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A marine sediment phytoremediated and homogenized by landfarming was tested for its potential recycle as growing media in horticulture. Two strawberry cultivars, Camarosa and Monterey, were grown on remediated sediment alone (TS100), commercial peat/pumice based growing medium (TS0) and a mixture 1:1 in volume of sediment and peat (TS50). Chemical fertility and strawberry production and safety of produced food were monitored for three consecutive productive seasons on the same growing media. During the first year of cultivation, plants grown on sediment-based media showed a significantly lower biomass production and fruit yield compared with peat, mainly due to the sediment low fertility. In the subsequent two years, the plant re-cultivation improved the sediment structure and N mineralization, and on the third cultivation year both strawberry cultivars showed higher fruit productivity and no accumulation of potentially toxic trace metals. The produced fruits did non accumulate high concentrations of trace metals, and risk assessment showed no risks for human health related to the consumption of strawberry produced on sediment-based growing media. We concluded that a phytoremediated sediment could be recycled as an ingredient of soilless growing media for reducing the environmental impact of plant nursery production and posing no risks for human health. These results show that reclaimed sediments could be reconsidered as a component material category in the new EU regulation on fertilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Tozzi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Renella
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padua, viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Macci Cristina
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Council of Research, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Grazia Masciandaro
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Council of Research, via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristina Gonnelli
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Micheli 1, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Ilaria Colzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Micheli 1, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Giagnoni
- Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, via Branze, 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Simona Pecchioli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Nin
- CREA, Research Centre for Vegetables and Ornamental Crops, via dei Fiori 8, 51012 Pescia, PT, Italy
| | - Edgardo Giordani
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
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Circular Economy for a Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain: A Review for Current Trends and Future Pathways. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13169294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The current agri-food supply chain is affected by different problems such as food loss and waste generation along the supply chain, and the circular economy offers a possibility to enhance and optimize the production and consumption to seek to a sustainable paradigm. The circular economy can be a winning approach to intervene and moderate the impacts generated in the agri-food sector, proposing actions and solutions to readmit wastes and by-products in the productive chain. The aim of this work was to perform a literature review coupled with a bibliometric analysis, using VOSviewer software, on the circular economy model in the agri-food sector, with particular relevance to the reuse and valorisation of wastes and by-products. Results showed that the topic is of particular relevance in the scientific community, and the concept is continuously evolving. Europe plays a leading role in the research, thanks to the involvement of the Member States, policy makers and stakeholders. Nevertheless, some aspects such as the development of a new economic circular model and some limitations of the current policies deserve further investigation.
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Liquid Chromatographic Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometric Untargeted Profiling of (Poly)phenolic Compounds in Rubus idaeus L. and Rubus occidentalis L. Fruits and Their Comparative Evaluation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10050704. [PMID: 33946792 PMCID: PMC8145548 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10050704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study provided a detailed profiling of the antioxidant and bioactive compounds occurring in three varieties of Rubus idaeus L. fruits (“Fall Gold”, “Glen Ample” and “Tulameen”) compared to Rubus occidentalis L. black raspberry (“Jewel” cultivar), adopting a comprehensive untargeted metabolomics approach developed with UHPLC analysis coupled with quadrupole/time-of-flight high resolution mass spectrometry, using the SWATH® acquisition protocol. The feature selection and annotation workflow, applied to the analysis of raspberry extracts in both polarities, allowed identifying 68 bioactive compounds mainly belonging to the classes of (poly)phenolic compounds. Interestingly, some of these identifications (e.g., ferulic acid glycosides and the ellagitannin-like nobotanin/malabathrin) represent the first report in raspberry fruits. Principal component analysis made possible highlighting the features more related to the expression of a genotype effect within the R. idaeus species or between the two raspberry species herein investigated. Overall, flavanols were the most discriminating features for the Fall Gold variety, whereas ellagitannins and flavonol glycosides represent more distinctive metabolic traits in Glen Ample and Tulameen fruits. Moreover, R. occidentalis Jewel variety was strongly characterized by the occurrence of anthocyanins, such as cyanidin, pelargonidin and delphinidin glycosides.
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