Sorption of aromatic organic contaminants by biopolymers: effects of pH, copper (II) complexation, and cellulose coating

Application of cellulose- and chitosan-based edible coatings for quality and safety of deep-fried foods

Excessive oil uptake and formation of carcinogens, such as acrylamide (AA), heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), during deep-frying are a potential threat for food quality and safety. Cellulose- and chitosan-based edible coatings have been widely applied to deep-fried foods for reduction of oil uptake because of their barrier property to limit oil ingress, and their apparent inhibition of AA formation. Cellulose- and chitosan-based edible coatings have low negative impacts on sensory attributes of fried foods and are low cost, nontoxic, and nonallergenic. They also show great potential for reducing HCAs and PAHs in fried foods. The incorporation of nanoparticles improves mechanical and barrier properties of cellulose and chitosan coatings, which may also contribute to reducing carcinogens derived from deep-frying. Considering the potential for positive health outcomes, cellulose- and chitosan-based edible coatings could be a valuable method for the food industry to improve the quality and safety of deep-fried foods.

Effect of Soil Solution Properties and Cu2+ Co-Existence on the Adsorption of Sulfadiazine onto Paddy Soil

Paddy soils are globally distributed and saturated with water long term, which is different from most terrestrial ecosystems. To better understand the environmental risks of antibiotics in paddy soils, this study chose sulfadiazine (SDZ) as a typical antibiotic. We investigated its adsorption behavior and the influence of soil solution properties, such as pH conditions, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ionic concentrations (IC), and the co-existence of Cu²⁺. The results indicated that (1) changes in soil solution pH and IC lower the adsorption of SDZ in paddy soils. (2) Increase of DOC facilitated the adsorption of SDZ in paddy soils. (3) Cu²⁺ co-existence increased the adsorption of SDZ on organic components, but decreased the adsorption capacity of clay soil for SDZ. (4) Further FTIR and SEM analyses indicated that complexation may not be the only form of Cu²⁺ and SDZ co-adsorption in paddy soils. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that soil solution properties and co-existent cations determine the sorption behavior of SDZ in paddy soils.

Adsorption of Organic Compounds by Biomass Chars: Direct Role of Aromatic Condensation (Ring Cluster Size) Revealed by Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Biomass chars are a major component of the soil environmental black carbon pool and prepared forms are a potentially useful tool in remediation. A function critical to the roles of both environmental and prepared chars is sorption of organic compounds. Char properties known to control sorption include surface area, porosity, functional group composition, and percent aromatic carbon. Here, we show that sorption affinity (but not maximum capacity) of organic compounds is directly related to the degree of condensation of the aromatic fraction. The Dubinin-Ashtakov characteristic sorption energy (E_DA, kJ mol^-1) of 22 compounds on a thermoseries of bamboo chars correlates strongly with the DP/MAS-¹³C NMR-determined bridgehead aromatic carbon fraction (χ_b), which relates to the mean ring cluster size. Density functional theory-computed binding energy (E_bd) for five of the compounds on a representative series of polybenzenoid hydrocarbon open-face sheets also correlates positively with χ_b, leveling off for rings larger than ∼C₅₅. The E_bd, in turn, correlates strongly with E_DA. An increase in E_bd with cluster size is also found for sorption, both monolayer and bilayer, between parallel sheets representing slit micropores. The increasing sorption energy with cluster size is shown to be due to increasing cluster polarizability, which strengthens dispersion forces with the sorbate. The findings underscore a previously overlooked explicit role of aromatic condensation in sorption energy, and illustrate the utility of E_DA-E_bd comparison for predicting sorption.

Novel eco-friendly amino-modified nanoparticles for phenol removal from aqueous solution

Herein, the impact of using dried Caulerpa prolifera nanoparticles and silica-coated Caulerpa prolifera nanoparticles for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution has been investigated. The chemical structure and morphology of both dried Caulerpa prolifera nanoparticles and silica-coated Caulerpa prolifera nanoparticles were characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Batch mode experiments were conducted depending on adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, and initial phenol concentration. In order to investigate the adsorption mechanism of the phenol molecules to the surface of the nanoparticles, kinetic models including pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models were executed. To describe the equilibrium isotherms, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were analyzed. However, the Langmuir isotherm model was agreed to be more significant with the obtained experimental data.

Graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogel based on poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto salep: an adsorbent for the removal of noxious dyes from water

In this study, a graphene oxide nanocomposite hydrogel (GONH) based on poly(acrylic acid) grafted onto a natural salep polysaccharide was synthesized and investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of cationic dye from aqueous solution.

Efficient Adsorption on Benzoyl and Stearoyl Cellulose to Remove Phenanthrene and Pyrene from Aqueous Solution

Benzoyl and stearoyl acid grafted cellulose were synthesized by a simple chemical grafting method. Using these as chemical adsorbents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), like pyrene and phenanthrene, were effectively removed from aqueous solution. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized adsorbents were determined through X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), FE-SEM, and NMR analyses. Through this method, it was confirmed that benzoyl and stearoyl acid were successfully grafted onto the surface of cellulose. The 5 mg of stearoyl grafted cellulose (St–Cell) remove 96.94% pyrene and 97.61% phenanthrene as compared to unmodified cellulose, which adsorbed 1.46% pyrene and 2.99% phenanthrene from 0.08 ppm pyrene and 0.8 ppm phenanthrene aqueous solution, suggesting that those results show a very efficient adsorption performance as compared to the unmodified cellulose.

Preparation and properties of chitosan-metal complex: Some factors influencing the adsorption capacity for dyes in aqueous solution

Chitosan-metal complexes have been widely studied in wastewater treatment, but there are still various factors in complex preparation which are collectively responsible for improving the adsorption capacity need to be further studied. Thus, this study investigates the factors affecting the adsorption ability of chitosan-metal complex adsorbents, including various kinds of metal centers, different metal salts and crosslinking degree. The results show that the chitosan-Fe(III) complex prepared by sulfate salts exhibited the best adsorption efficiency (100%) for various dyes in very short time duration (10min), and its maximum adsorption capacity achieved 349.22mg/g. The anion of the metal salt which was used in preparation played an important role to enhance the adsorption ability of chitosan-metal complex. SO₄^2- ions not only had the effect of crosslinking through electrostatic interaction with amine group of chitosan polymer, but also could facilitate the chelation of metal ions with chitosan polymer during the synthesis process. Additionally, the pH sensitivity and the sensitivity of ionic environment for chitosan-metal complex were analyzed. We hope that these factors affecting the adsorption of the chitosan-metal complex can help not only in optimizing its use but also in designing new chitosan-metal based complexes.

Effects of humic acid and heavy metals on the sorption of polar and apolar organic pollutants onto biochars

The effects of humic acid (HA) and heavy metals (Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺) on the sorption of polar and apolar organic pollutants onto biochars that were produced at temperatures of 200 °C (BC200) and 700 °C (BC700) were studied. Due to the plentiful polar functional groups on BC200, cationic propranolol exhibited higher levels of sorption than naphthalene on BC200 while naphthalene and propranolol showed similar sorption capacities on BC700. HA changed the characteristics of biochars and generally inhibited the sorption of target organic pollutants on biochars; however, enhancement occurred in some cases depending on the pollutants involved and their concentrations, biochars used and the addition sequences and concentrations of HA. On BC200, HA modifications mainly influenced sorption by decreasing its polarity and increasing its aromaticity, while on BC700, the surface area and pore volume greatly decreased due to the pore-blocking effects of HA. Residue dissolved HA in solution may also contribute to sorption inhibition. Complexation between polar functional groups on BC200 and heavy metals slightly enhanced the sorption of neutral naphthalene and significantly enhanced that of anionic 4-nitro-1-naphtol, while limited the sorption of cationic propranolol. Heavy metals together with their associated water molecules decreased the sorption of target chemicals on BC700 via pore-filling or pore-mouth-covering. Inhibition of heavy metals for 4-nitro-1-naphthol was found to be the weakest due to the bridge effects of heavy metals between 4-nitro-1-naphtol and BC700. The higher polarizability of Ag⁺ led to the increase of its sorption on biochars in the presence of organic aromatic pollutants. The results of the present study shed light on the sorption mechanisms of bi-solute systems and enable us to select suitable biochar sorbents when chemicals co-exist.

Review of Bionanocomposite Coating Films and Their Applications

The properties of a composite material depend on its constituent materials such as natural biopolymers or synthetic biodegradable polymers and inorganic or organic nanomaterials or nano-scale minerals. The significance of bio-based and synthetic polymers and their drawbacks on coating film application is currently being discussed in research papers and articles. Properties and applications vary for each novel synthetic bio-based material, and a number of such materials have been fabricated in recent years. This review provides an in-depth discussion on the properties and applications of biopolymer-based nanocomposite coating films. Recent works and articles are cited in this paper. These citations are ubiquitous in the development of novel bionanocomposites and their applications.

Assessing adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on Rhizopus oryzae cell wall components with water-methanol cosolvent model

The contribution of different fungal cell wall components in adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is still unclear. We isolated Rhizopus oryzae cell walls components with sequential extraction, characterized functional groups with NEXAFS spectra, and determined partition coefficients of PAHs on cell walls and cell wall components with cosolvent model. Spectra of NEXAFS indicated that isolated cell walls components were featured with peaks at ~532.7 and ~534.5eV energy. The lipid cosolvent partition coefficients were approximately one order of magnitude higher than the corresponding carbohydrate cosolvent partition coefficients. The partition coefficients for four tested carbohydrates varied at approximate 0.5 logarithmic units. Partition coefficients between biosorbents and water calculated based cosolvent models ranged from 0.8 to 4.2. The present study proved the importance of fungal cell wall components in adsorption of PAHs, and consequently the role of fungi in PAHs bioremediation.

Al-Doped chitosan nonwoven in a novel adsorption reactor with a cylindrical sleeve for dye removal: performance and mechanism of action

To overcome the inconvenience of solid/liquid separation of powdered adsorbents, a novel adsorption reactor with a cylinder sleeve was designed to match the textile-pattern of chitosan nonwoven for the sake of easy separation and simple operation.

Effects of copper and aluminum on the adsorption of sulfathiazole and tylosin on peat and soil

Effects of copper (Cu) and aluminum (Al) on the adsorption of sulfathiazole (STZ) and tylosin (T) to peat and soil were investigated using a batch equilibration method. Results show that Cu suppressed STZ adsorption onto peat and soil at pH < 5.0 because of the electrostatic competition, while increased STZ adsorption at pH > 5.0 due to the formation of STZ-Cu complexes and/or Cu bridge. In contrast, Al only decreased STZ adsorption at pH < 6.0, and exerted slight effect on STZ adsorption at >6.0. As for T, both Cu and Al suppressed its adsorption over the entire pH range owing to three reasons: 1) electrostatic competition between Cu/Al and T(+); 2) Cu/Al adsorption made the soil and peat surface less negatively charged, which was unfavorable for T(+) adsorption; 3) the shrunken pore size of peat and soil retarded the diffusion of large-sized T into these pores.

Activity of Arylsulphatase in Soil Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

An experiment has been performed to determine the activity of arylsulphatase in soil submitted to pressure of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: naphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene, in the amount of: 0, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 mg kg^-1 dm of soil. Soil samples were also applied some organic substances, such as: cellulose, sucrose, and compost, in the amount of 0 and 9 g kg^-1 dm of soil. The experiment was run under laboratory conditions. It was established on soil which belonged to loamy sand. The soil resistance (RS) and resilience (RL) indices were computed. It has been discovered that the PAHs stimulated arylsulphatase activity, with anthracene raising the activity of the enzyme to the highest degree. The activity of arysulphatase depended significantly on the dose of a PAH, duration of pressure, and type of organic substances added to soil. The highest resistance (RS) was determined in soil exposed to phenanthrene, and the lowest one-in soil polluted with pyrene. Low values of the RL index prove that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons cause lasting disorders in the activity of arylsulphatase.

Impact of the simulated diagenesis on sorption of naphthalene and 1-naphthol by soil organic matter and its precursors

Soil organic matter (SOM) in a peat soil, humic acid, and humin and their precursors (i.e., cellulose and lignin) were treated at high temperature (250 and 400 °C) with high pressure in a sealed platinum reaction kittle to simulate the influence of diagenesis on their composition and structure, and impact of the simulated diagenesis on sorption behaviors of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) (i.e., naphthalene and 1-naphthol) by these samples was investigated. High temperature and pressure treatment greatly influenced chemical composition and physical properties of the original samples and their sorption for both naphthalene and 1-naphthol. Sorption of naphthalene by all samples was jointly regulated by hydrophobic and π-π interactions with their alkyl and aromatic carbon moieties, which was derived from the positive correlation between total hydrophobic carbon content of all sorbents and their organic carbon content-normalized sorption coefficients (Koc) for this compound (p = 0.075). However, sorption of 1-naphthol by the tested sorbents was governed by hydrogen bonding with their O-containing polar functionalities, as derived from the positive correlation between Koc values of 1-Naph and their polarity index ((O+N)/C). Difference in sorption mechanisms of naphthalene and 1-naphthol by the original and treated samples noted the great influence of chemical composition of sorbates on their interaction and essential roles of specific interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding) in sorption of polar compound (i.e., 1-naphthol) to these sorbents. Surface area (SA) and porosity data of sorbents obtained from N2 sorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K showed that new SA and pores were created during the diagenetic process of all original samples, which provided substantial sorption sites and thus enhanced sorption of naphthalene and 1-naphthol. Among all tested samples, physicochemical properties of cellulose were most strongly affected by the simulated diagenetic process, and impact of such a process on its sorption intensity for the tested compounds was the most significant. The characterization data of the treated sorbents showed that the high temperature and pressure treatment similarly simulated the naturally occurring diagenesis of SOMs and their precursors, which is a first attempt. These findings are valuable for better understanding of the sorption behaviors of HOCs to SOM and its precursors as affected by diagenesis, which in turn is critical for elucidating the transport and fate of HOCs in the environment.

Fast and highly efficient removal of dyes under alkaline conditions using magnetic chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel

The dyeing effluent of high alkalinity, which could not be treated efficiently by traditional wastewater technologies, highlighted the need to explore a technically feasible, highly efficient and cost effective method. Thus, a fast and highly efficient method for the removal of dyes under alkaline conditions using magnetic chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel was proposed. Firstly, chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel was prepared by a chelation procedure with cheap and environmentally friendly chitosan and iron salts. We characterized the sorption and desorption of C. I. Acid Red 73, a common type of anionic dye, on magnetic chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel, to understand its availability for alkaline dyeing wastewater. Sorption of dye to chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel was fast (adsorption could reach equilibrium in less than 10 min) in a wide pH range, and agreed well to the Langmuir-Freundlich adsorption model with a high maximum adsorption capacity of 294.5 mg/g under pH = 12. Meanwhile, 1 mol/L NaOH was used to desorb the dye efficiently (desorption efficiency 94.4%) and 0.1 mol/L HCl was applied to regenerate the chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel. The results showed that the chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel could retain its high efficiency after the desorption and regeneration. The common coexisting ions almost had no negative effect on the dye adsorption of chitosan-Fe(III) and the removals of a variety of anionic dyes suggest that the magnetic chitosan-Fe(III) hydrogel could efficiently adsorb both the acid and reactive dyes under alkaline condition. Overall, the results reported herein indicated that magnetic chtisoan-Fe(III) with high adsorption efficiency and strong magnetic property is very attractive and implies a potential of practical application for alkaline dyeing effluent treatment.

Sorption mechanisms of phenanthrene, lindane, and atrazine with various humic acid fractions from a single soil sample

The sorption behavior of organic compounds (phenanthrene, lindane, and atrazine) to sequentially extracted humic acids and humin from a peat soil was examined. The elemental composition, XPS and (13)C NMR data of sorbents combined with sorption isotherm data of the tested compounds show that nonspecific interactions govern sorption of phenanthrene and lindane by humic substances. Their sorption is dependent on surface and bulk alkyl carbon contents of the sorbents, rather than aromatic carbon. Sorption of atrazine by these sorbents, however, is regulated by polar interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding). Carboxylic and phenolic moieties are key components for H-bonding formation. Thermal analysis reveals that sorption of apolar (i.e., phenanthrene and lindane) and polar (i.e., atrazine) compounds by humic substances exhibit dissimilar relationships with condensation and thermal stability of sorption domains, emphasizing the major influence of domain spatial arrangement on sorption of organic compounds with distinct polarity. Results of pH-dependent sorption indicate that reduction in sorption of atrazine by the tested sorbents is more evident than phenanthrene with increasing pH, supporting the dependence of organic compound sorption on its polarity and structure. This study highlights the different interaction mechanisms of apolar and polar organic compounds with humic substances.

Partition coefficients of organic contaminants with carbohydrates

In view of the current lack of reliable partition coefficients for organic compounds with carbohydrates (K(ch)), carefully measured values with cellulose and starch, the two major forms of carbohydrates, are provided for a wide range of compounds: short-chain chlorinated hydrocarbons, halogenated benzenes, alkyl benzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides. To ensure the accuracy of the K(ch) data, solute concentrations in both water and carbohydrate phases are measured by direct solvent extraction of the samples. For a given compound, the observed partition coefficient with cellulose (K(cl)) is virtually the same as that with starch (K(st)). This finding expedites the evaluation of organic contamination with different forms of carbohydrates. The presently determined K(ch) values of 13 PAHs are substantially lower (by 3-66 times) than the literature data; the latter are suspect as they were obtained with (i) presumably impure carbohydrate samples or (ii) indirectly measured equilibrium solute concentrations in carbohydrate and water phases. Although the K(ch) values are generally considerably lower than the respective K(ow) (octanol-water) or K(lipid) (lipid-water), accurate K(ch) data are duly required to accurately estimate the contamination of carbohydrates by organic compounds because of the abundance of carbohydrates over lipids in crops and plants. To overcome the current lack of reliable K(ch) data for organic compounds, a close correlation of log K(ch) with log K(ow) has been established for predicting the unavailable K(ch) data for low-polarity compounds.

Sorption capacity of mesoporous metal oxides for the removal of MCPA from polluted waters

A study was performed to assess the sorption capacity of the phenoxy acid herbicide, MCPA, on two mesoporous oxides, Al(2)O(3) and Fe(2)O(3,) by using a batch equilibrium method. Effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration and sorbent dosage on the sorption of the herbicide were investigated. The collected data evidenced the greater sorption efficiency of Al(2)O(3) with respect to Fe(2)O(3). These results can be explained by considering the specific mesoporous structure of Al(2)O(3) together with the greater value of surface area. MCPA is assumed to be bound to Al(2)O(3) and Fe(2)O(3) by a combination of ionic and ion-dipole bonding. Both oxides present as sorbents for a fast and highly efficient removal of MCPA from contaminated waters. For the first time the possible use of mesoporous metal oxides to remove MCPA from contaminated wastewaters identifies these sorbents as suitable filters for the decontamination of point sources.

Equilibrium and molecular mechanism of anionic dyes adsorption onto copper(II) complex of dithiocarbamate-modified starch

The assembly of dyes molecules on metal-polymer complexes is of interest due to their potential applications in photovoltaic cell, separation, and wastewater treatment. In the present work, the interaction of anionic dyes (acid orange 7, acid orange 10, acid green 25, and acid red 18) with the copper(II) complex of dithiocarbamate-modified starch (DTCSCu) was investigated. The sorption studies showed that the interaction mechanism was based on chelating adsorption. The equilibrium data fitted well with Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm, and the capacities followed the order AO7 > AG25 > AR18 > AO10. It was affected by the structure of the dye. The sulfonate groups located on benzene rings favored efficient adsorption. Despite the difference in capacity, the molar n(dye):n(Cu) ratios for acid orange 10, acid red 18, and acid green 25 were approximately 1:2 when the maximum capacities for the dyes were achieved at the optimal pH of 4. It suggested that one dye molecule bound to one dinuclear copper center on DTCSCu. The molar n(dye):n(Cu) ratio for the smallest dye, acid orange 7 (AO7), approached 1:1, demonstrating two AO7 molecules binding to two copper ions of the dinuclear core. The dyes adsorption related to the dinuclear copper core available on the polymer was further verified by electron spin resonance studies. Such interaction resulted in the formation of a ternary dye-metal-polymer complex. The ternary complexes were more stable than DTCSCu, which favored the adsorptions.

Influence of environmental factors on pesticide adsorption by black carbon: pH and model dissolved organic matter

Loading two organic acids of known molecular structures onto a black carbon was conducted to study the influence of pH and dissolved organic matter on the adsorption of pesticides. Tannic acid at the loading rates of 100 and 300 micromol/g reduced the surface area of black carbon by 18 and 63%, respectively. This was due principally to the blockage of micropores, as verified by measured pore volumes and pore-size distributions. With a comparatively much smaller molecular structure, gallic acid did not apparently influence these properties. The intrinsic acidities of the two acids increased the surface acidity from 1.88 mmol/g of black carbon to 1.93-2.02 mmol/g after DOM loading, resulting in a reduction in isoelectric point pH from 1.93 to 1.66-1.82. The adsorption of propanil, 2,4-D and prometon by black carbon free and loaded of DOM was dependent on pH because major adsorptive forces were the interactions between neutral pesticide molecules and uncharged carbon surfaces. The adsorption was diminished considerably by the deprotonation of 2,4-D and protonation of prometon, as well as the surface charge change of black carbon. Tannic acid of 100 and 300 micromol/g on black carbon reduced the pesticide adsorption at the equilibrium concentration of 10 mg/L by an average of 46 and 81%, respectively, consistent with the reductions of 42 and 81% in micropore volume. At the equilibrium concentration of 30 mg/L, the mesopore surface became the additional adsorptive domain for propanil. Loading tannic acid made the mesopore surface less accessible, due presumably to the enhanced obstruction by tannic acid.

Comparative study on the sorption capacity of cyhalofop Acid on polymerin, ferrihydrite, and on a ferrihydrite-polymerin complex

A comparative study was performed on the sorption capacity of the phenoxy acid herbicide cyhalofop on polymerin (from olive oil mill effluents), ferrihydrite, and a ferrihydrite-polymerin complex, by using a batch equilibrium method. The most efficient sorbent showed to be ferrihydrite followed by the ferrihydrite-polymerin complex and polymerin. Cyhalofop acid bound to ferrihydrite by a combination of ionic and ion-dipole bonding, whereas the same herbicide bound to the ferrihydrite-polymerin complex by ionic bonding and to polymerin by hydrogen bonding. Simulated wastewaters contaminated with cyhalofop acid were completely purified by two sorption cycles on ferrihydrite and five cycles on the ferrihydrite-polymerin complex, whereas the same wastewaters maintained a constant residue even after five sorption cycles on polymerin. For the first time, the possible use of a mineral (ferrihydrite) and an organo-mineral complex (ferrihydrite-polymerin) as a filter for the control of the herbicide contamination in point sources is proposed and briefly discussed.

Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to carbohydrates and lipids of ryegrass root and implications for a sorption prediction model

Plant lipids were considered as the main storage sites for hydrophobic organic contaminants while carbohydrates were generally underestimated, and the lipid-water partition coefficients (Klip) of contaminants were assumed to be the same as the corresponding octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow). Sorption of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to ryegrass root and its carbohydrates and lipids was investigated to evaluate the role of carbohydrates and lipids on sorption of organic contaminants to plant Results revealed that sorption of PAHs to ryegrass root was actually regulated by both carbohydrates and lipids rather than lipids individually, as generally assumed. Kch (carbohydrates-water partition coefficient) and Klip could be estimated with the corresponding Kow values: log Kch = 1.23 log Kow - 2.42 and log Klip = 1.23 log Kow - 0.78. Although the affinity of PAHs for lipids appears to be about 1.64 orders of magnitudes higher than that for carbohydrates, sorption of PAHs to carbohydrates could not be neglected because of its predominant weight fraction in plants (about 98 times of lipids for ryegrass root). An improved model containing integral roles of carbohydrates and lipids was established, which showed excellent accuracy for predicting the sorption of organic contaminants to plants.

Phenanthrene sorption by fruit cuticles and potato periderm with different compositional characteristics

Phenanthrene sorption by fruit cuticles (tomato, apple, and grape), potato tuber periderm, and their fractions were investigated to elucidate effects of compositional characteristics on affinity of plant cuticle (above-ground) and periderm (below-ground) with hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). The distinct roles of the extractable lipids (waxes), the depolymerizable lipids (cutin/suberin), the nonsaponifiable lipids (cutan/suberan) and polysaccharide are discussed. The cutin/suberin rather than waxes dominates the sorption properties of bulk cuticle/periderm, but the sorption coefficient (K(d)) is linearly correlated with the total lipid contents. Polysaccharide plays a negative role in HOC sorption due to its obviously poor affinity with HOCs and restriction effect on the other powerful sorptive regions in cuticle/periderm. The significantly lower sorption of periderm than cuticle is attributed to the former having higher polysaccharide and lower depolymerizable lipids. The linear correlation of K(d) of bulk cuticle/periderm with polysaccharide content is observed for a potential prediction of plant uptake.

Sorption of phenanthrene by dissolved organic matter and its complex with aluminum oxide nanoparticles

Intent of this study was to explore the potential application of polymerin, the polymeric, dissolved organic matter fraction from olive oil wastewaters, in technologies aimed at remediating hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) point-source pollution. Phenanthrene binding with polymerin was investigated. Moreover, the effect of addition of micro and nanoscale aluminum oxides (Al2O3) was studied, as well as sorption of polymerin on the oxides. Phenanthrene binding capacity by polymerin was notably higher than the sorption capacities for both types of Al2O3 particles. Polymerin sorption on nanoparticles was nearly 100 times higher than microparticles. In a three-phase system, using microparticles, higher phenanthrene sorption was found by adding into water polymerin, oxides and phenanthrene simultaneously. In contrast, using nanoparticles, a considerable enhancement of phenanthrene sorption was shown by adding phenanthrene to a pre-formed and dried polymerin-oxide complex. These findings support the application of polymerin, especially associated with Al2O3 nanoparticles, in remediation of water contaminated with HOCs. This work highlights the significant role of nanoparticles.

Enhanced bioaugmentation of petroleum- and salt-contaminated soil using wheat straw

A new bioaugmentation method for petroleum- and salt-contaminated soil was presented, in which wheat straw was used to enhance salt leaching and subsequent petroleum degradation by a bacteria-fungi consortium of Enterobacter cloacae and Cunninghamella echinulata. The effectiveness of a coarse wheat straw layer in inhibiting capillary-induced upward salt movement and in enhancing growth of E. cloacae and C. echinulata was shown in the laboratory and a 7000-m(2) field study in Henan Province, China. In the field study, the Na(+) concentration in remediated soil at 1-25 cm depth decreased from 1597 ± 394 to 543 ± 217 mg kg(-1), while Cl(-) decreased from 1520 ± 922 to 421 ± 253 mg kg(-1). The wheat straw increased bacterial biomass by 170-fold and fungi 11-fold compared to control soil without wheat straw. The concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons decreased from 6320 ± 1180 to 2260 ± 420 mg kg(-1) after 45 d of treatment. Wheat was cultivated on remediated soil and grain yield reached 72% of that obtained in normal farmland adjacent to the study site. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of wheat straw in enhancing bioaugmentation of the petroleum- and salt-contaminated soil and indicated a high application potential.

Sorption of anionic metsulfuron-methyl and cationic difenzoquat on peat and soil as affected by copper

The effect of cationic copper (Cu2+) on the sorption of anionic metsulfuron-methyl (Me) and cationic difenzoquat (DZ) to peat and soil was studied using a batch equilibration method. The results showed that Cu2+ increased the sorption of Me but diminished the sorption of DZ. The adsorption of Cu2+ on the surface of peat and soil neutralizes the negative charge, making the zeta potential (zeta) of peat and soil less negative, consequently decreasing the repulsion between the surface of peat or soil and Me and increasing the sorption of Me. Cu2+ may additionally form Cu-Me complexes in aqueous solution, which was preferentially sorbed to peat and soil over the anionic Me. In contrast, the decreased negative surface charge of soil and peat does not favor the sorption of cationic DZ. Fourier transform infrared showed that DZ may be sorbed through interaction with -OH or -COOH groups of peat and soil and that surface complexes of Cu2+ may form through these groups. A competitive sorption between Cu2t and DZ for the same sorption sites is indicated, leading to mutual sorption inhibition of both cations.

Sorption of organic contaminants by carbon nanotubes: influence of adsorbed organic matter

Sorption of three types of dissolved organic matter (DOM; i.e., humic acid, peptone and alpha-phenylalanine) by a mutiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT40) and sorption of phenanthrene (Phen), naphthalene (Naph), and 1-naphthol (1-Naph) by the original and DOM-coated MWNT40 were examined. Sorption data of Phen, Naph, and 1-Naph by all sorbents were fitted with Freundlich and Polanyi models. MWNT40 had nonlinear isotherms for all DOMs examined. Sorption of DOMs by MWNT40 followed the order peptone > humic acid > alpha-phenylalanine. The humic acid used in this study had much lower sorption for Phen, Naph, and 1-Naph than MWNT40, but its coating did not make striking changes on sorption of these compounds by MWNT40, suggesting that humic acid coating dramatically altered the physical form and surface properties of MWNT40. Peptone coating made the strongest suppression on sorption of Phen, Naph, and 1-Naph by MWNT40 among the three DOMs used, due to its highest sorption on MWNT40, thus causing a great reduction in accessibility of sorption sites. Polanyi modeling results showed that reduction in the maximum volume sorption capacity (Q0) of MWNT40 induced by DOM coating followed the order Phen < Naph < 1-Naph. 1-Naph was less hydrophobic than Phen and Naph but it had much higher sorbed volume (V(m)) than Phen and Naph at individual RT In(S(w)/C(e))/V(s)points for all sorbents. The correlation curve for the Polanyi model was applicable for sorption of aromatic compounds of similar structure by the original and DOM-coated carbon nanotubes.

Facilitating effects of metal cations on phenanthrone sorption in soils

Effects of metal cations (Na+, Ca2+, and Al3+) on phenanthrene sorption were investigated using two soils with contrasting organic carbon (OC) contents. The presence of the polyvalent cations (i.e., Ca2+ or Al3+) at a concentration of 0.01 mol/L significantly increased the capacity and nonlinearity of phenanthrene sorption to soils compared with the monovalent Na+. The effects were governed by the content of soil OC. Rubbery OC (i.e., soft, amorphous OC including dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) tended to become condensed on soil surfaces as evidenced by a decrease in the signals of the 1H NMR spectra of DOC and an increase in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the soils when the polyvalent cations were present. Increasing Ca2+ concentration led initially to an effect similar to that of the polyvalent cations in the low cation concentration range, and the effect was gradually attenuated as Ca2+ concentration further increased. These findings lead us to propose that the modifications in the physical configuration and chemical characteristics of OC resulting from the presence of metal cations account for the increase in the capacity and nonlinearity of phenanthrene sorption to the soils. This study points to an important role of metal cations in the sorption and fate of phenanthrene in the soil environment.

Absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to cellulose

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread toxic chemicals. The environmental fate of these chemicals is in part controlled by sorption to (organic matter in) sediments and soils. One of the most abundant organic matter compounds on earth is cellulose. Remarkably, sorption of PAHs to cellulose has hardly been studied; only two reports on the binding of some low-molecular-weight PAHs exist in the literature. In this study, sorption of PAHs to cellulose was investigated in more detail, by measuring isotherms for a series of 13 PAHs, covering a wide hydrophobicity range. The results indicated that sorption of PAHs to cellulose is a linear partition process for all PAHs investigated (phenanthrene-indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene). The affinity of PAHs for cellulose appeared to be about 400 times lower than for octanol and even up to 300000 times lower than for black carbon or coal. Linked to the estimated yearly production of cellulose and black carbon, these results suggest that cellulose is probably not a major environmental sorption domain for PAHs.

Sorption of organic contaminants by biopolymer-derived chars

Sorption of phenanthrene and naphthalene by chitin and cellulose, as well as these biopolymer-derived chars, was examined. Carbon contents were much higher in the chars than their respective biopolymers, and nitrogen was dramatically accumulated in the chitin-derived chars. After charring, sorption of these two compounds was greatly increased, which was attributed to the newly created surface area, porosity, and aromatic components. The aromatic carbon content of the biopolymer chars increased with an increase in the charring temperature. Sorption of phenanthrene and naphthalene to chitin and cellulose was dominated by partitioning. However, after charring, sorption of these two compounds became much more of an adsorption process, because of the newly created surfaces and micropores. The maximum mass sorption capacity of phenanthrene and naphthalene by the original biopolymers and their chars was positively correlated with their surface areas, suggesting that active sorption sites were largely on the surfaces of chars. At low solute concentrations, sorption of phenanthrene and naphthalene by biopolymer chars was dominated by the micropore-filling mechanism; with an increase in the solute concentration, sorption of these two compounds by biopolymer chars shifted to a surface-sorption-dominant process. The maximum mass sorption capacity and K(ow)-normalized sorption amount of phenanthrene were lower than those of naphthalene by the biopolymers and their chars, showing the influence of molecular dimension on sorption. This study demonstrates the significantly enhanced sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds by highly polar biopolymers through charring and the joint roles of surface area, porosity, and surface functionalities of biopolymer-derived chars in governing sorption.

Electrospun polymer nanofibers as a solid-phase extraction sorbent for the determination of trace pollutants in environmental water

This paper describes the novel preparation of three kinds of nanofibers [poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid), poly(styrene-co-p-styrene sulfonate), polystyrene] investigated as solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents to extract six compounds (nitrobenzene, 2-naphthol, benzene, n-butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, naphthalene, p-dichlorobenzene) in environmental water by high-performance liquid chromatography. Parameters affecting extraction efficiency were investigated in detail to explore the extraction mechanism of the nanofibers. Under optimized conditions, six compounds followed an excellent linear relationship in the range 10-5,000 ng mL(-1) with coefficients of determination (r (2)) greater than 0.99. The repeatability (expressed as relative standard deviations) was from 3.0 to 7.0%, corresponding to 2.0 mL of water samples at 25 and 500 ng mL(-1) spiked levels for the six compounds. The limits of detection varied from 0.01 to 0.15 ng mL(-1) (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). A comparison of the SPE using nanofibers as sorbents and the most commonly used octadecylsilica SPE cartridges was carried out in terms of absolute recovery, sensitivity, and reproducibility for the compounds investigated. Finally, the method was applied to four real water samples. The results highlighted the importance of functional groups, and the polarity of nanofibers in controlling sorption of target compounds, and clearly showed that the new method could be a viable and environmentally friendly technique for analyzing pollutants in environmental samples.