Investigating Microcystin-LR adsorption mechanisms on mesoporous carbon, mesoporous silica, and their amino-functionalized form: Surface chemistry, pore structures, and molecular characteristics

Eco-friendly, pH-sensitive curcumin-loaded sodium alginate/hydroxyapatite/quaternary ammonium chitosan microspheres with enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activities for fruit preservation

The development of intelligent responsive reactive packaging materials with natural polymers shows excellent potential in food preservation. In this study, eco-friendly, pH-sensitive sodium alginate (SA)/hydroxyapatite (HA)/quaternary ammonium chitosan (HACC) composite microspheres loading curcumin (CUR) with excellent antibacterial and antioxidant activities were successfully synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption tests indicated that the doping of HA substantially increased the specific surface area and pore volume of the microspheres. The loading experiments showed that the efficiency of the microspheres was significantly increased by 49.47 % and 55.10 %, respectively, when HA and HACC were incorporated into the SA network. The release test results suggested that the release rate of SA/HA/HACC microspheres loading CUR (SA/HA/HACC@CUR) increased as the pH decreased, demonstrating notable pH-responsive release characteristics. DPPH free radical scavenging experiments demonstrated that the SA/HA/HACC@CUR had excellent and long-lasting antioxidant capacity. The antibacterial experiments revealed that the SA/HA/HACC@CUR had excellent antibacterial properties, with inhibition rates of 88.73 % and 92.52 % against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Making coatings out of microspheres could effectively slow down the rotting and deterioration of cherry tomatoes during storage, suggesting that microspheres with intelligent responses have a broad application prospect in fruit preservation.

Engineering of molecularly imprinted cavity within 3D covalent organic frameworks: An innovation for enhanced extraction and removal of microcystins

The scarcity of selective adsorbents for efficient extraction and removal of microcystins (MCs) from complex samples greatly limits the precise detection and effective control of MCs. Three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (3D COFs), characterized by their large specific surface areas and highly ordered rigid structure, are promising candidates, but suffer from lack of specific recognition. Herein, we design to engineer molecularly imprinted cavities within 3D COFs via molecularly imprinted technology, creating a novel adsorbent with exceptional selectivity, kinetics and capacity for the efficient extraction and removal of MCs. As proof-of-concept, a new CC bond-containing 3D COF, designated JNU-7, is designed and prepared for copolymerization with methacrylic acid, the pseudo template L-arginine and ethylene dimethacrylate to yield the JNU-7 based molecularly imprinted polymer (JNU-7-MIP). The JNU-7-MIP exhibits a great adsorption capacity (156 mg g-1) for L-arginine. Subsequently, the JNU-7-MIP based solid-phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry achieves low detection limit of 0.008 ng mL-1, wide linear range of 0.025-100 ng mL-1, high enrichment factor of 186, rapid extraction of 10 min, and good recoveries of 92.4%-106.5% for MC-LR. Moreover, the JNU-7-MIP can rapidly remove the MC-LR from 1 mg L-1 to levels (0.26-0.35 μg L-1) lower than the WHO recommended limit for drinking water (1 μg L-1). This work reveals the considerable potential of 3D COF based MIPs as promising adsorbents for the extraction and removal of contaminants in complex real samples.

Coupling physiochemical adsorption with biodegradation for enhanced removal of microcystin-LR in water

To innovate the design of water treatment technology for algal toxin removal, this research investigated the mechanisms of cyanotoxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) removal by a coupled adsorption-biodegradation. Eight types of woody carbonaceous adsorbents with and without Sphingopyxis sp. m6, a MC-LR degrading bacterium, were tested for MC-LR removal in water. All adsorbents showed good adsorption capability, removing 40 % to almost 100 % of the MC-LR (4.5 mg/L) within 48 h in batch experiments. Adding Sphingopyxis sp. m6 continuously promoted MC-LR biological removal, and successfully broke the barrier of adsorption capacity of tested adsorbents, removing >90 % of the MC-LR in most of the coupled adsorption-biodegradation tests, especially for those adsorbents had low physiochemical adsorption capacity. Variance partitioning analysis indicated that mesopore was the dominant contributor to adsorption capacity of MC-LR in pure adsorption treatments, which acted synergistically with electrical conductivity, polarity and total functional groups on the absorbent. Pore structure was the key factor beneficial for the growth of Sphingopyxis sp. m6 (51% contribution) and subsequent MC-LR biological removal rate (80 % contribution). Overall, pinewood-based carbonaceous adsorbents (especially pinewood activated carbon) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity towards MC-LR and provided the most favorable conditions for biological removal of MC-LR, largely because of their high mesopore volume, total functional groups and electric conductivity. The research outcomes not only deepened the quantitative understanding of mechanisms for MC-LR removal by the coupled process, but also provided theoretical basis for future materials' selection and modification during the practical application of coupled process.

Comparative genomic analysis and functional investigations for MCs catabolism mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics of MCs-degrading bacteria in ecology

Microcystins (MCs) significantly threaten the ecosystem and public health. Biodegradation has emerged as a promising technology for removing MCs. Many MCs-degrading bacteria have been identified, including an indigenous bacterium Sphingopyxis sp. YF1 that could degrade MC-LR and Adda completely. Herein, we gained insight into the MCs biodegradation mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics of MCs-degrading bacteria, and revealed the toxic risks of the MCs degradation products. The biochemical characteristics and genetic repertoires of strain YF1 were explored. A comparative genomic analysis was performed on strain YF1 and six other MCs-degrading bacteria to investigate their functions. The degradation products were investigated, and the toxicity of the intermediates was analyzed through rigorous theoretical calculation. Strain YF1 might be a novel species that exhibited versatile substrate utilization capabilities. Many common genes and metabolic pathways were identified, shedding light on shared functions and catabolism in the MCs-degrading bacteria. The crucial genes involved in MCs catabolism mechanisms, including mlr and paa gene clusters, were identified successfully. These functional genes might experience horizontal gene transfer events, suggesting the evolutionary dynamics of these MCs-degrading bacteria in ecology. Moreover, the degradation products for MCs and Adda were summarized, and we found most of the intermediates exhibited lower toxicity to different organisms than the parent compound. These findings systematically revealed the MCs catabolism mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics of MCs-degrading bacteria. Consequently, this research contributed to the advancement of green biodegradation technology in aquatic ecology, which might protect human health from MCs.

Physico-chemical treatments for the removal of cyanotoxins from drinking water: Current challenges and future trends

Cyanobacteria are highly prevalent blue-green algae that grow in stagnant and nutrient-rich water bodies. Environmental conditions, such as eutrophication and human activities, increased the cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater resources worldwide. The excessive bloom formation has also resulted in an alarming surge of cyanobacterial toxins. Prolonged exposure to cyanotoxins is a potential threat to natural ecosystems, animal and human health by the spoilage of the quality of bathing and drinking water. Various molecular and analytical methods have been proposed to monitor their occurrence and understand their global distribution. Moreover, different physical, chemical, and biological approaches have been employed to control cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins to mitigate their occurrence. Numerous strategies have been engaged in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). However, the degree of treatment varies greatly and is primarily determined by the source, water properties, and operating parameters such as temperature, pH, and cyanotoxin variants and levels. A comprehensive compilation of methods, from traditional approaches to more advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), are presented for the removal of intracellular and extracellular cyanotoxins. This review discusses the effectiveness of various physicochemical operations and their limitations in a DWTP, for the removal of various cyanotoxins. These operations span from simple to advanced treatment levels with varying degrees of effectiveness and differing costs of implementation. Furthermore, mitigation measures applied in other toxin systems have been considered as alternative strategies.

Non-negligible inhibition effect of microcystin-LR biodegradation products target to protein phosphatase 2A

Though biodegradation is an important regulation pathway for microcystins (MCs) pollution, more consideration needs to be given to the potential risk associated with related biodegradation products (MC-BDPs). In this work, typical MCLR-BDPs were prepared and their toxicity was evaluated by protein phosphatases (PPs) inhibition assay. Results showed the initial ring opening of MCLR played a crucial role in detoxification. However, partial MCLR-BDPs still retained the critical structures and thus exhibited certain toxicity (2.8-43.5% of MCLR). With the aid of molecular simulation, the mechanism for the potential toxicity of BDPs targeting PP2A was elucidated. The initial ring opening made the loss of hydrogen bond Leu2←Arg89, and pi-H bond Adda5-His191, which was responsible for the significant reduction in the toxicity of MCLR-BDP. However, the key hydrogen bonds MeAsp3←Arg89, Glu6←Arg89, Adda5←Asn117, Adda5←His118, Arg4→Pro213, Arg4←Arg214, Ala1←Arg268, and Mdha7←Arg268, metal bond Glu6-Mn12+, and ionic bonds Glu6-Arg89, and Glu6-Mn22+ were preserved in varying degrees. Above preserved interactions maintained the interactions between PP2A and Mn2+ ions (reducing the exposure of Mn2+ ions). Above preserved interactions also hindered the combination of phosphate groups to Arg214 residual and thus exhibited potential toxicity.

Green conversion of waste PET into magnetic Ni0·4Fe2·6O4/(Fe,Ni)@carbon nanostructure for adsorption and separation of dyes from aqueous media

A nanostructured core-shell composite (Ni0·4Fe2·6O4/(Fe,Ni)@carbon, NFC) comprising magnetic nano-cores encapsulated with graphitic shells (≈80 wt%) is prepared by facile and clean mechanochemical-molten salt processing approach using waste PET; providing a specific surface area of 201.9 m2 g-1, well-developed mesopores, and ferromagnetic behavior characterized by the coercivity value of 149 Oe. NFC is utilized as a high-performance adsorbent for the removal of organic dyes from their aqueous solutions. Moreover, the magnetic performance of NFC enables the facile collection of the exhausted adsorbent out of the purified water. Performances of NFC for the removal of crystal violet dye (CV), methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (Rh B) from their aqueous solutions are systematically investigated under different environmental conditions including the adsorbent dosage and dye concentration, as well as the solution pH and temperature, where an impressive CV removal capacity of 201.6-243.8 mg g-1 is recorded for a wide pH range of 2-10. Mechanism and kinetics involved in the adsorption process are investigated by studying the adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics. The dye adsorption of the nanocomposite material is confirmed to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model combined with the Langmuir isotherm model, exhibiting an excellent spontaneous and exothermic monolayer adsorption capacity of around 153 mg g-1 (for MO) for the fresh adsorbent and around 89 mg g-1 after three adsorption-regeneration cycles.

Graphene as a rational interface for enhanced adsorption of microcystin-LR from water

Cyanotoxins such as microcystin-LR (MC-LR) represent a global environmental threat to ecosystems and drinking water supplies. The study investigated the direct use of graphene as a rational interface for removal of MC-LR via interactions with the aromatic ring of the ADDA1 chain of MC-LR and the sp2 hybridized carbon network of graphene. Intra-particle diffusion model fit indicated the high mesoporosity of graphene provided significant enhancements to both adsorption capacities and kinetics when benchmarked against microporous granular activated carbon (GAC). Graphene showed superior MC-LR adsorption capacity of 75.4 mg/g (Freundlich model) compared to 0.982 mg/g (Langmuir model) for GAC. Sorption kinetic studies showed graphene adsorbs 99% of MC-LR in 30 min, compared to zero removal for GAC after 24 hr using the same MC-LR concentration. Density functional theory (DFT), calculations showed that postulated π-based interactions align well with the NMR-based experimental work used to probe primary interactions between graphene and MC-LR adduct. This study proved that π-interactions between the aromatic ring on MC-LR and graphene sp2 orbitals are a dominant interaction. With rapid kinetics and adsorption capacities much higher than GAC, it is anticipated that graphene will offer a novel molecular approach for removal of toxins and emerging contaminants with aromatic systems.

A Perspective on Removal of Cyanotoxins from Water Through Advanced Oxidation Processes

This perspective discusses the challenges associated with the removal of cyanotoxins from raw water sources for drinking water treatment and the emergence of sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) as an effective treatment technique. The advantage of SR-AOPs is that they can be activated using a variety of methods, including heat, UV radiation, and transition metal catalysts, allowing for greater flexibility in treatment design and optimization. In addition, the byproducts of SR-AOPs are less harmful than those generated by •OH-AOPs, which reduces the risk of secondary contamination. SR-AOPs generate sulfate radicals (SO4 •-) that are highly selective to certain organic contaminants and have lower reactivity to background water constituents, resulting in higher efficiency and selectivity of the process. The presence of natural organic matter and transition metals in the natural water body increases the degradation efficiency of SR-AOPs for the cyanotoxins. The bromate formation is also suppressed when the water contaminated with cyanotoxins is treated with SR-AOPs.

Effect of three commercial algaecides on cyanobacteria and microcystin-LR: implications for drinking water treatment using activated carbon

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic ecosystems are associated to both public health and environmental concerns worldwide. Depending on the treatment technologies used, the removal capacity of cyanotoxins by drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) is not sufficient to reach safe levels in drinking water. Likewise, controlling these blooms with algaecide may impair the efficiency of DWTPs due to the possible lysis of cyanobacterial cells and consequent release of cyanotoxins. We investigated the effects of three commercial algaecides (cationic polymer, copper sulfate, and hydrogen peroxide) on the growth parameters of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and the release of microcystin-LR (MC-LR). The potential interference of each algaecide on the MC-LR removal by adsorption on activated carbon (AC) was also tested through adsorption isotherms and kinetics experiments. Most algaecides significantly decreased the cell density and biovolume of M. aeruginosa, as well as increased the release of MC-LR. Interestingly, the presence of the algaecides in binary mixtures with MC-LR affected the adsorption of the cyanotoxin. Relevant adsorption parameters (e.g., maximum adsorption capacity, adsorption intensity, and affinity between MC-LR and AC) were altered when the algaecides were present, especially in the case of the cationic polymer. Also, the algaecides influenced the kinetics (e.g., by shifting the initial adsorption and the desorption constant), which may directly affect the design and operation of DWTPs. Our study indicated that algaecides can significantly impact the fate and the removal of MC-LR in DWTPs when the adsorption process is employed, with important implications for the management and performance of such facilities.

Adsorption of recalcitrant contaminants of emerging concern onto activated carbon: A laboratory and pilot-scale study

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of water quality indicators, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), associated with the development of multi-barrier approaches for wastewater treatment, are crucial steps towards direct potable reuse of water. The aims of this study were 1) quantifying twelve CECs (including pharmaceutical, stimulant, and artificial sweetener compounds) in both untreated and treated wastewater samples in a Brazilian wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using bidimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, allowing the selection of five marker (i.e., priority) CECs; 2) evaluating the adsorption potential of such selected CECs [caffeine, hydrochlorothiazide, saccharin, sucralose (SUC), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)] onto coconut-shell granular activated carbon (GAC); and 3) investigating the removal of the same CECs by a multi-barrier system (pilot-scale, 350 L h^-1) treating the effluent of the WWTP and composed of reverse osmosis (RO), photoperoxidation (UV/H₂O₂), and filtration with GAC. Such technologies were tested separately and in binary or ternary combinations. Eleven and eight CECs were detected and quantified on the untreated and treated wastewater samples of the Brazilian WWTP, respectively. For the treated wastewater, the concentrations ranged from 499 ng L^-1 (SMX) to 87,831 ng L^-1 (SUC). The adsorption onto AC data fitted the Sips isotherm model, indicating monolayer chemisorption, which was also suggested by the mean adsorption energy values (>16 kJ mol^-1). SMX and SUC were the most and the least adsorbed CECs (4.33 and 1.21 mg g^-1, respectively). Concerning the pilot-scale treatment plant, the ternary combination (RO + UV/H₂O₂+GAC) removed >99% of the five marker CECs and promoted reductions on water color, turbidity, as well as on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Further studies on water reuse could prioritize the selected marker CECs as quality indicators. While the removal of marker CECs is one of the WHO performance requirements, the RO + UV/H₂O₂+GAC system showed promising results as a first approach to direct potable reuse of water.

Adsorbents Used for Microcystin Removal from Water Sources: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

The increasing occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in water sources, driven by climate change and eutrophication, is of great concern worldwide today. Cyanobacterial blooms can negatively affect water bodies and generate harmful secondary metabolites, namely microcystins (MCs), which significantly impair water quality. Various adsorbents used for MC removal from water sources were assessed in this investigation. Activated carbon constitutes the most widely used adsorbent for treating contaminated waters due to its high affinity for adsorbing MCs. Alternative adsorbents have also been proposed and reported to provide higher efficiency, but the studies carried out so far in this regard are still insufficient. The mechanisms implicated in MC adsorption upon different adsorbents should be further detailed for a better optimization of the adsorption process. Certainly, adsorbent characteristics, water pH and temperature are the main factors influencing the adsorption of MCs. In this context, optimization studies must be performed considering the effectiveness, economic aspects associated with each adsorbent. This review provides guidelines for more practical field applications of the adsorption in the treatment of waters actually contaminated with MCs.

Multiple pathways for the anaerobic biodegradation of microcystin-LR in the enriched microbial communities from Lake Taihu

Anaerobic biodegradation is a non-negligible elimination approach for microcystin (MC) pollution and exhibits important bioremediation potential for environmental problems. However, the specific anaerobic MC-degrading mechanism remains unclear and few functional bacteria have been found. In this study, three microbial communities of sludges from different locations in Lake Taihu were collected and further enriched by microcystin-LR (MC-LR) under anaerobic conditions. MC-LR (1 mg/L) could be completely degraded by these enriched microbial communities under anaerobic conditions, but their degradation rates were significantly different. In addition, two different ring-opening sites of MC-LR in Ala-Leu and Arg-Adda were observed, and three new anaerobic degradation products were first identified, including two hexapeptides (MeAsp-Arg-Adda-Glu-Mdha-Ala and Adda-Glu-Mdha-Ala-Leu-MeAsp) and one end-product pentapeptide (Glu-Mdha-Ala-Leu-MeAsp). Based on the chemical structures and temporal trends of all detected degradation products, two novel anaerobic biodegradation pathways of MC-LR were proposed. Moreover, the MC-degrading genes mlrABC were not detected among all microbial communities, which suggested that some new MC-degrading mechanisms might exist under anaerobic conditions. Finally, through the comparison of microbial community structure, Gemmatimonas and Smithella were deduced as possible anaerobic MC-degrading bacteria. These findings strongly indicate that anaerobic biodegradation is an important method of self-repair in the natural environment and provides a potential removal strategy for MC pollution.

Exposure to microcystin-LR in tropical reservoirs for water supply poses high risks for children and adults

While the presence of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in raw water from eutrophic reservoirs poses human health concerns, the risks associated with the ingestion of MC-LR in drinking water are not fully elucidated. We used a time series of MC-LR in raw water from tropical urban reservoirs in Brazil to estimate the hazard quotients (HQs) for non-carcinogenic health effects and the potential ingestion of MC-LR through drinking water. We considered scenarios of MC-LR removal in the drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) of two supply systems (Cascata and Guarapiranga). The former uses coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation/filtration/disinfection, while the latter has an additional step of membrane ultrafiltration, with contrasting expected MC-LR removal efficiencies. We considered reference values for infants (0.30 μg L^-1), children/adults (1.60 μg L^-1), or the population in general (1.0 μg L^-1). For most scenarios for Cascata, the 95% upper confidence level of the HQ indicated high risks of exposure for the population (HQ > 1), particularly for infants (HQ = 30.910). The water treatment in Cascata was associated to the potential exposure to MC-LR due to its limited removal capacity, with up to 263 days/year with MC-LR above threshold values. The Guarapiranga system had the lowest MC-LR in the raw water as well as higher expected removal efficiencies in the DWTP, resulting in negligible risks. We reinforce the importance of integrating raw water quality characteristics and treatment technologies to reduce the risks of exposure to MC-LR, especially for vulnerable population groups. Our results can serve as a starting point for risk management strategies to minimize cases of MC-LR intoxication in Brazil and other developing countries.

Thermally enhanced adsorption and persulfate oxidation-driven regeneration on FeCl3-activated biochar for removal of microcystin-LR in water

In this study, a cyclic process of adsorption and persulfate (PS) oxidation-driven regeneration using FeCl₃-activated biochar (FA-BC) was suggested as a novel remediation process to remove microcystin-LR (MC-LR) from water. For enhancing overall treatment efficiency and cost effectiveness, the impacts of temperature on adsorption and PS oxidation-driven regeneration were investigated. The increase of temperature resulted in the increase of MC-LR adsorption rate on FA-BC due to the enhanced MC-LR diffusivity in water. Moreover, the MC-LR oxidation and PS reaction rates during the PS regeneration on FA-BC were remarkably improved by factors of 3.4 and 3.5 with increasing temperature from 20 °C to 50 °C. Both diffusion and desorption of MC-LR from FA-BC were thought to be the key factors for controlling the MC-LR oxidation rate during the PS regeneration of MC-LR. In addition, the decrease of pH (from 10 to 4) and increase of PS concentration (from 100 to 400 mg/L) enhanced the regeneration efficiency for MC-LR-spent FA-BC. The four cycles of adsorption-PS regeneration (200 mg/L PS, pH 6, and 50 °C) resulted in 92.81% regeneration efficiency in DI water and 82.89% in lake water. However, the four cycles of adsorption-PS regeneration led to the reduction of surface area (from 835 to 413 m²/g), oxidation of carbon surface and slight reduction of Fe⁰ on FA-BC. In overall, the cyclic adsorption-PS regeneration at higher temperature could provide practical reuse of FA-BC for cost-effective treatment of aqueous MC-LR.

Current knowledge in the field of algal organic matter adsorption onto activated carbon in drinking water treatment

The increasing occurrence of algal and cyanobacterial blooms and the related formation of algal organic matter (AOM) is a worldwide issue that endangers the quality of freshwater sources and affects water treatment processes. The associated problems involve the production of toxins or taste and odor compounds, increasing coagulant demand, inhibition of removal of other polluting compounds, and in many cases, AOM acts as a precursor of disinfection by-products. Previous research has shown that for sufficient AOM removal, the conventional drinking water treatment based on coagulation/flocculation must be often accompanied by additional polishing technologies such as adsorption onto activated carbon (AC). This state-of-the-art review is intended to serve as a summary of the most current research on the adsorption of AOM onto AC concerning drinking water treatment. It summarizes emerging trends in this field with an emphasis on the type of AOM compounds removed and on the adsorption mechanisms and influencing factors involved. Additionally, also the principles of competitive adsorption of AOM and other organic pollutants are elaborated. Further, this paper also synthesizes previous knowledge on combining AC adsorption with other treatment techniques for enhanced AOM removal in order to provide a practical resource for researchers, water treatment plant operators and engineers. Finally, research gaps regarding the AOM adsorption onto AC are identified, including, e.g., adsorption of AOM residuals recalcitrant to coagulation/flocculation, suitability of pre-oxidation of AOM prior to the AC adsorption, relationships between the solution properties and AOM adsorption behaviour, or AOM as a cause of competitive adsorption. Also, focus should be laid on continuous flow column experiments using water with multi-component composition, because these would greatly contribute to transferring the theoretical knowledge to practice.

Ultrahigh Adsorption Capacity and Kinetics of Vertically Oriented Mesoporous Coatings for Removal of Organic Pollutants

Highly efficient removal of organic pollutants currently is a main worldwide concern in water treatment, and highly challenging. Here, vertically oriented mesoporous coatings (MCs) with tunable surface properties and pore sizes have been developed via the single-micelle directing assembly strategy, which show good adsorption performances toward a wide range of organic pollutants. The micelle size and structure can be precisely regulated by oil molecules based on their n-octanol/water partition coefficients (Log P) in the oil-water diphase assembly system, which are critical to the pore size and pore surface property of the MCs. The affinity and steric effects of the MCs can be on-demand adjusted, as a result, the MCs show a ultrahigh adsorption capacity (263 mg g^-1 ), surface occupancy ratio (≈41.92%), and adsorption rate (≈10.85 mg g^-1  min^-1 ) for microcystin-LR, which is among the best performances up to date. The MCs also show an excellent universality to remove organic pollutants with different properties. Moreover, overcoming the challenges proposed by particulate absorbents, the MCs are stable and can be easily regenerated and reused without secondary contamination. This work paves a new route to the synthesis of high-quality MCs for water purification.

Adsorption and regeneration on iron-activated biochar for removal of microcystin-LR

Novel iron activated biochars (FA-BCs) were prepared via simultaneous pyrolysis and activation of FeCl₃-pretreated bermudagrass (BG) for removing microcystin-LR (MC-LR) in aqueous solution. Compared to the raw BC (without activation), the surface area and adsorption capacity of FA-BC at iron impregnation ratio of 2 (2 g FeCl₃/g BG) were enhanced from 86 m²/g and 0.76 mg/g to 835 m²/g and 9.00 mg/g. Moreover, FA-BC possessed various iron oxides at its surface which provided the catalytic capacity for regeneration of MC-LR spent FA-BC and magnetic separation after the MC-LR adsorption. Possible mechanisms for the MC-LR adsorption onto FA-BC would include electrostatic attraction, π⁺-π, hydrogen bond, and hydrophobic interactions. The detailed adsorption studies indicated mainly chemisorption and intra-particle diffusion limitation would participate in the adsorption process. The thermal regeneration at 300 °C kept high regeneration efficiency (99-100%) for the MC-LR spent FA-BC during four cycles of adsorption-regeneration. In addition, the high regeneration efficiency (close to 100%) was also achieved by persulfate oxidation-driven regeneration. FA-BC also exhibited high adsorption capacity for the MC-LR from the real lake water to meet the MC-LR concentration below 1 μg/L as a safe guideline suggested by WHO.

Fabrication of porous carbon derived from cotton/polyester waste mixed with oyster shells: Pore-forming process and application for tetracycline removal

Porous carbon was fabricated from cotton/polyester-based textile wastes as a carbon source coupled with oyster shells for tetracycline removal. The preparation conditions were optimized and detailed characterization was conducted to study the effects of oyster shells on cotton/polyester pyrolysis. The optimal pyrolysis temperature (900 °C), pyrolysis time (1 h) and mass ratio (OS/CPW of 1:1) were determined using the Box-Behnken experiment. The best porous carbon reached a surface area of 645.05 m²/g. Oyster shells acted as templates to produce cotton/polyester-based porous carbon and a possible pore-forming process was proposed. CaO was converted from CaCO₃, which played the dominant role in developing the mesoporous structure. CO₂ gas released from CaCO₃ promoted the creation of micropore structure. In addition, the impurites of oyster shells acted as the dispersing agent inhibiting CaCO₃ and CaO aggregation and growth. Fe₂O₃ and K₂O from impurities reacted with the carbon skeleton to increase microporosity. Finally, the well-developed and uniform porous carbon was obtained. The first-pseudo order model and Langmuir isotherms were suitable. The maximum adsorption capacity of PC-OS-900 was 515.17 mg/g which competed with other waste-based adsorbents. The TET adsorption mechanism was related to pore distribution, hydrogen bonds, π-π EDA interactions and electrostatic interactions.

Recent Advancements in the Removal of Cyanotoxins from Water Using Conventional and Modified Adsorbents—A Contemporary Review

The prevalence of cyanobacteria is increasing in freshwaters due to climate change, eutrophication, and their ability to adapt and thrive in changing environmental conditions. In response to various environmental pressures, they produce toxins known as cyanotoxins, which impair water quality significantly. Prolonged human exposure to cyanotoxins, such as microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins, and anatoxin through drinking water can cause severe health effects. Conventional water treatment processes are not effective in removing these cyanotoxins in water and advanced water treatment processes are often used instead. Among the advanced water treatment methods, adsorption is advantageous compared to other methods because of its affordability and design simplicity for cyanotoxins removal. This article provides a current review of recent developments in cyanotoxin removal using both conventional and modified adsorbents. Given the different cyanotoxins removal capacities and cost of conventional and modified adsorbents, a future outlook, as well as suggestions are provided to achieve optimal cyanotoxin removal through adsorption.

Enhanced bioactivity and osteogenic property of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone composites modified with amino groups

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is considered as a potential dental and orthopedic implant material owing to its favorable thermal and chemical stability, biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, the inherent bio-inert and inferior osseointegration of PEEK have hampered its clinical application. In addition, carbon fiber is widely used as a filler to reinforce polymers for sturdy composites owing to its high strength, modulus, etc. In the study, carbon fiber reinforced PEEK (CPEEK) composites were fabricated and modified with amino groups by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition surface modification technique. The surface characterization of composites was evaluated by FE-SEM, EDS, AFM, Water contact angle, XPS and FTIR, which revealed that amino groups were successfully incorporated on the modified CPEEK surface and significantly increased the hydrophilicity. In vitro study, cell adhesion, proliferation, ALP activity, ECM mineralization, real-time PCR analysis, and ELISA analysis showed the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MG-63 cells on the amino group-modified CPEEK surface were higher than the CPEEK, equal to or better than pure titanium. Hence, the results indicated that the amino group-modified CPEEK possessed enhanced bioactivity and osteogenic property, which may be a potential candidate material for dental implants.