Performance analysis of hydrochar derived from catalytic hydrothermal carbonization in the multicomponent emerging contaminant systems: Selectivity and modeling studies

Trace cisplatin adsorption by thiol-functionalized sponge (TFS) and Sn/SnO2-coated TFS: Adsorption study and mechanism investigation

To remove trace cisplatin from aqueous solution, commercial sponges were functionalized by esterification with 3-mercaptopropionic acid, followed by reduction with Na2S·9H2O or SnCl2·2H2O. The resulting thiol-functionalized sponges (TFSs), TFS_1 and TFS_2, were tested for the removal of cisplatin (235 μg L-1) achieving maximum removal of 95.5 ± 0.8% and 99.5 ± 0.1% respectively, which were significantly higher than the non-functionalized counterpart. The successful grafting of thiol groups, verified through FTIR, elemental analysis, SEM-EDS, and XPS characterization, facilitated Pt-S complexation during adsorption. The aqua-derivatives of cisplatin, formed through hydration, complexed with thiol sites through ligand displacement. Additionally, the presence of Sn/SnO2 coating on TFS_2 further enhanced the adsorption process. The rapid adsorption process conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetic model, involving both diffusion and chemisorption. While the Langmuir isotherm model generally described the monolayer adsorption behavior of cisplatin, the aggregation of Sn/SnO2 onto TFS_2 at 343 K introduced surface heterogeneity, rendering the Freundlich model a better fit for the adsorption isotherm. Differential pH dependence and the evaluation of mean free energy, derived from the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm model, indicated that cisplatin adsorption onto TFS_1 involved physisorption, including electrostatic attraction, while chemisorption predominated for TFS_2. Increasing the temperature notably promoted adsorption by facilitating the thermal-favored formation of Pt-S bonds.

Advances in lignin-based biosorbents for sustainable wastewater treatment

The heavy metals, pesticides and dyes in agriculture and industry caused serious water pollution have increased the urgency for the advancement of biomass-based adsorbents due to their merits of low cost, high efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Thus, this review systematically examines the recent progress of lignin-based adsorbents dedicated to wastewater purification. Commencing with a succinct exposition on the intricate structure and prevalent forms of lignin, the review proceeds to expound rational design strategies tailored for lignin-based adsorbents coupled with adsorption mechanisms and regeneration methods. Emphasis is placed on the potential industrial applications of lignin-based adsorbents, accentuating their capacity for recovery and direct utilization post-use. The future challenges and outlooks associated with lignin-based adsorbents are discussed to provide novel perspectives for the development of high-performance and sustainable biosorbents, facilitating the effective removal of pollutants and the value-added utilization of resources in a sustainable manner.

Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies on the biosorption of lead by human metallothionein gene-cloned bacteria as a novel biosorbent

Heavy metals are the main pollutants in water and are an important global problem that threatens human health and ecosystems. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the use of genetically modified bacteria as an eco-friendly method to solve heavy metal pollution problems. The goal of this study was to generate genetically modified Escherichia coli expressing human metallothioneins (hMT2A and hMT3) and to determine their tolerance, bioaccumulation, and biosorption capacity to lead (Pb2+ ). Recombinant MT2A and MT3 strains expressing MT were successfully generated. Minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) of Pb for MT2A and MT3 were found to be 1750 and 2000 mg L-1 , respectively. Pb2+ resistance and bioaccumulation capacity of MT3 were higher than MT2A. Therefore, only MT3 biosorbent was used in Pb2+ biosorption, and its efficiency was examined by performing experiments in a batch system. Pb2+ biosorption by MT3 was evaluated in terms of isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics. The results showed that Pb biosorption fits to the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and the reaction is exothermic. The maximum Pb2+ capacity of the biosorbent was 50 mg Pb2+ g-1 . The potential of MT3 in Pb biosorption was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyses. The desorption study showed that the sorbent had up to 74% recovery and could be effectively used four times. These findings imply that this biosorbent can be applied as a promising, precise, and effective means of removing Pb2+ from contaminated waters. PRACTITIONER POINTS: In this study, the tolerance levels, bioaccumulation, and biosorption capacities of Pb in aqueous solutions were determined for the first time in recombinant MT2A and MT3 strains in which human MT2A and MT3 genes were cloned. The biosorbent of MT3, which was determined to be more effective in Pb bioaccumulation, was synthesized and used in Pb biosorption. The Pb biosorption mechanism of MT3 biosorbent was identified using isotherm modeling, kinetic modeling, and thermodynamic studies. The maximum Pb removal percentage capacity of the biosorbent was 90%, whereas the maximum biosorption capacity was up to 50 mg Pb2+ g-1 . These results indicated that MT3 biosorbent has a higher Pb biosorption capacity than existing recombinant biosorbents. MT3 biosorbent can be used as a promising and effective biosorbent for removing Pb from wastewater.