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Esposito MC, Riva L, Russo GL, Punta C, Corsi I, Tosti E, Gallo A. Reproductive toxicity assessment of cellulose nanofibers, citric acid, and branched polyethylenimine in sea urchins: Eco-design of nanostructured cellulose sponge framework (Part B). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 350:123934. [PMID: 38588971 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
In the framework of a safe-by-design approach, we previously assessed the eco-safety of nanostructured cellulose sponge (CNS) leachate on sea urchin reproduction. It impaired gamete quality, gamete fertilization competence, and embryo development possibly due to the leaching of chemical additives used during the CNS synthesis process. To extend this observation and identify the component(s) that contribute to CNS ecotoxicity, in the present study, we individually screened the cytotoxic effects on sea urchin Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus gametes and embryos of the three main constituents of CNS, namely cellulose nanofibers, citric acid, and branched polyethylenimine. The study aimed to minimize any potential safety risk of these components and to obtain an eco-safe CNS. Among the three CNS constituents, branched polyethylenimine resulted in the most toxic agent. Indeed, it affected the physiology and fertilization competence of male and female gametes as well as embryo development in both sea urchin species. These results are consistent with those previously reported for CNS leachate. Moreover, the characterisation of CNS leachate confirmed the presence of detectable branched polyethylenimine in the conditioned seawater even though in a very limited amount. Altogether, these data indicate that the presence of branched polyethylenimine is a cause-effect associated with a significant risk in CNS formulations due to its leaching upon contact with seawater. Nevertheless, the suggested safety protocol consisting of consecutive leaching treatments and conditioning of CNS in seawater can successfully ameliorate the CNS ecotoxicity while maintaining the efficacy of its sorbent properties supporting potential environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Consiglia Esposito
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Russo
- Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tosti
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gallo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy.
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Riva L, Dotti A, Iucci G, Venditti I, Meneghini C, Corsi I, Khalakhan I, Nicastro G, Punta C, Battocchio C. Silver Nanoparticles Supported onto TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibers for Promoting Cd 2+ Cation Adsorption. ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS 2024; 7:2401-2413. [PMID: 38298253 PMCID: PMC10825820 DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.3c06052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Nanocellulose constitutes a sustainable and biobased solution both as an efficient sorbent material for water treatment and as support for other inorganic nanomaterials with sorbent properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a nanocomposite by deposition of in situ-generated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs). Following an in-depth analytical investigation, we unveil for the first time the key role of AgNPs in enhancing the adsorption efficiency of TOCNF toward Cd2+ ions, chosen as model heavy metal contaminants. The obtained nanocomposite shows a value of Cd2+ sorption capacity at equilibrium from 150 mg L-1 ion aqueous solutions of ∼116 mg g-1 against the value of 78 mg g-1 measured for TOCNF alone. A combination of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses suggests that Cd2+ ions are mainly adsorbed in the neighborhood of AgNPs. However, XPS characterization allows us to conclude that the role of AgNPs relies on increasing the exposure of carboxylic groups with respect to the original TOCNF, suggesting that these groups are still responsible for absorption. In fact, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis of the Cd-K edge excludes a direct interaction between Ag0 and Cd2+, supporting the XPS results and confirming the coordination of the latter with carboxyl groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Riva
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Dotti
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Iucci
- Department
of Science, Roma Tre University, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Iole Venditti
- Department
of Science, Roma Tre University, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Meneghini
- Department
of Science, Roma Tre University, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department
of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ivan Khalakhan
- Department
of Surface and Plasma Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Gloria Nicastro
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department
of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Battocchio
- Department
of Science, Roma Tre University, Via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
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3
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Esposito MC, Russo GL, Riva L, Punta C, Corsi I, Tosti E, Gallo A. Nanostructured cellulose sponge engineered for marine environmental remediation: Eco-safety assessment of its leachate on sea urchin reproduction (Part A). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122169. [PMID: 37437755 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Nanostructured cellulose sponges (CNS) have been developed as eco-friendly and sustainable engineered materials for marine environmental remediation. Despite their functionality, sensitivity, efficiency and specificity have been proved, CNS application is still limited since their environmental safety (eco-safety) has not been completely assessed. In this study, CNS were allowed to leach in natural seawater simulating the remediation process condition and the eco-safety of CNS leachate on sea urchin reproduction has been assessed by carrying out a multi-response integrated approach, combining standardized ecotoxicity tests, innovative bioassays and gamete quality assessment. Overall, the ecotoxicity data indicate that CNS leachate affects gamete quality, gamete fertilisation competence, and embryo development probably associated with the release of chemical additives used during the synthesis process. However, in the framework of the eco-design approach, consecutive leaching treatments and conditioning of CNS in seawater open the route for a new safety protocol successfully solving the ecotoxicity while maintaining CNS sorbent properties. A safe environmental application of the resulting conditioned CNS for seawater pollution remediation is envisaged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Consiglia Esposito
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Gian Luigi Russo
- Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, via Roma 64, 83100, Avellino, Italy
| | - Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tosti
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gallo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy.
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Corsi I, Venditti I, Trotta F, Punta C. Environmental safety of nanotechnologies: The eco-design of manufactured nanomaterials for environmental remediation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 864:161181. [PMID: 36581299 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nanosafety is paramount considering the risks associated with manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) whose implications could outweigh their advantages for environmental applications. Although nanotechnology-based solutions to implement pollution control, remediation and prevention are incremental with clear benefits for public health and Earth' natural ecosystems, nanoremediation is having a setback due to the risks associated with the safety of MNMs for humans and the environment. MNMs are diverse, work differently and bionano-interactions occurring upon environmental exposure will guide their fate and hazardous outcomes. Here we propose a new ecologically-based design strategy (eco-design) having its roots in green nanoscience and LCA that will ground on an Ecological Risk Assessment approach, which introduces the evaluation of MNMs' ecotoxicity along with their performances and efficacies at the design stage. As such, the proposed eco-design strategy will allow recognition and design-out since the very beginning of material synthesis, those hazardous peculiar features that can be hazardous to living beings and the natural environment. A more ecologically sound eco-design strategy in which nanosafety is conceptually included in MNMs design will sustain safer nanotechnologies including those for the environment as remediation by leveraging any risks for humans and natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Iole Venditti
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Trotta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta" and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy
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Guidi P, Bernardeschi M, Palumbo M, Buttino I, Vitiello V, Scarcelli V, Chiaretti G, Fiorati A, Pellegrini D, Pontorno L, Bonciani L, Punta C, Corsi I, Frenzilli G. Eco-Friendly Engineered Nanomaterials Coupled with Filtering Fine-Mesh Net as a Promising Tool to Remediate Contaminated Freshwater Sludges: An Ecotoxicity Investigation. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:396. [PMID: 36770355 PMCID: PMC9920148 DOI: 10.3390/nano13030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The use of eco-friendly engineered nanomaterials represents a recent solution for an effective and safe treatment of contaminated dredging sludge. In this study, an eco-designed engineered material based on cross-linked nanocellulose (CNS) was applied for the first time to decontaminate a real matrix from heavy metals (namely Zn, Ni, Cu, and Fe) and other undesired elements (mainly Ba and As) in a lab-scale study, with the aim to design a safe solution for the remediation of contaminated matrices. Contaminated freshwater sludge was treated with CNS coupled with a filtering fine-mesh net, and the obtained waters were tested for acute and sublethal toxicity. In order to check the safety of the proposed treatment system, toxicity tests were conducted by exposing the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the crustacean Heterocypris incongruens, while subtoxicity biomarkers such as lysosomal membrane stability, genetic, and chromosomal damage assessment were performed on the freshwater bivalve Dreissena polymorpha. Dredging sludge was found to be genotoxic, and such genotoxicity was mitigated by the combined use of CNS and a filtering fine-mesh net. Chemical analyses confirmed the results by highlighting the abetment of target contaminants, indicating the present model as a promising tool in freshwater sludge nanoremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Guidi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Margherita Bernardeschi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Mara Palumbo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Isabella Buttino
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Valentina Vitiello
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Vittoria Scarcelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianluca Chiaretti
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorati
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - David Pellegrini
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via del Cedro, 38, 57123 Livorno, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Pontorno
- Biochemie Lab. S.r.l, Via di Limite 27G, 50013 Campi Bisenzio, Italy
| | - Lisa Bonciani
- Biochemie Lab. S.r.l, Via di Limite 27G, 50013 Campi Bisenzio, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Frenzilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, and INSTM Local Unit, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Gallo Stampino P, Riva L, Caruso M, Rahman IA, Elegir G, Bussini D, Marti-Rujas J, Dotelli G, Punta C. Can TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibers Be Used as Additives in Bio-Based Building Materials? A Preliminary Study on Earth Plasters. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 16:74. [PMID: 36614411 PMCID: PMC9820849 DOI: 10.3390/ma16010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Interest towards cellulose nanofibers obtained from virgin and waste sources has seen a significant growth, mainly thanks to the increasing sensitivity towards the concept of circular economy and the high levels of paper recycling achieved in recent years. Inspired by the guidelines of the green building industry, this study proposes the production and characterization of TEMPO-oxidized and homogenized cellulose nanofibers (TOHO CNF) from different sources and their use as additives for earth plasters on two different raw earth samples, characterized by geotechnical laboratory tests and mineralogical analysis: a high-plasticity clay (T2) and a medium-compressibility silt (ABS). Original sources, including those derived from waste (recycled cardboard and paper mill sludge), were characterized by determining chemical content (cellulose versus ashes and lignin) and fiber morphology. TOHO CNF derived from the different sources were compared in terms of nanofibers medium diameter, crystallinity degree, thermal decomposition and oxidation degree, that is the content of carboxylic groups per gram of sample. Then, a preliminary analysis of the influence of CNF on earth plasters is examined. Adhesion and capillary absorption tests highlighted the effect of such nanofibers on blends in function of two factors, namely the cellulose original source and the oxidation degree of the fibers. In particular, for both earth samples, T2 and ABS, a significant increase in adhesion strength was observed in the presence of some TOHO CNF additives. As far as capillary sorption tests, while an undesired increase in water adsorption was detected for T2 compared to the control, in the case of ABS, a significant reduction in water content was measured by adding TOHO CNF derived from recycled sources. These results pave the way for further in-depth investigation on the role of TOHO CNF as additives for earth plasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Gallo Stampino
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Caruso
- Materials Testing Laboratory, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Imran Abdul Rahman
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Graziano Elegir
- Innovhub Stazioni Sperimentali per l’Industria S.r.l., Via Giuseppe Colombo 83, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Bussini
- Innovhub Stazioni Sperimentali per l’Industria S.r.l., Via Giuseppe Colombo 83, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Javier Marti-Rujas
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Dotelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Selective Oxidation of Cellulose—A Multitask Platform with Significant Environmental Impact. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15145076. [PMID: 35888547 PMCID: PMC9324530 DOI: 10.3390/ma15145076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Raw cellulose, or even agro-industrial waste, have been extensively used for environmental applications, namely industrial water decontamination, due to their effectiveness, availability, and low production cost. This was a response to the increasing societal demand for fresh water, which made the purification of wastewater one of the major research issue for both academic and industrial R&D communities. Cellulose has undergone various derivatization reactions in order to change the cellulose surface charge density, a prerequisite condition to delaminate fibers down to nanometric fibrils through a low-energy process, and to obtain products with various structures and properties able to undergo further processing. Selective oxidation of cellulose, one of the most important methods of chemical modification, turned out to be a multitask platform to obtain new high-performance, versatile, cellulose-based materials, with many other applications aside from the environmental ones: in biomedical engineering and healthcare, energy storage, barrier and sensing applications, food packaging, etc. Various methods of selective oxidation have been studied, but among these, (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl) (TEMPO)-mediated and periodate oxidation reactions have attracted more interest due to their enhanced regioselectivity, high yield and degree of substitution, mild conditions, and the possibility to further process the selectively oxidized cellulose into new materials with more complex formulations. This study systematically presents the main methods commonly used for the selective oxidation of cellulose and provides a survey of the most recent reports on the environmental applications of oxidized cellulose, such as the removal of heavy metals, dyes, and other organic pollutants from the wastewater.
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Cellular Responses Induced by Zinc in Zebra Mussel Haemocytes. Loss of DNA Integrity as a Cellular Mechanism to Evaluate the Suitability of Nanocellulose-Based Materials in Nanoremediation. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11092219. [PMID: 34578535 PMCID: PMC8472658 DOI: 10.3390/nano11092219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Zinc environmental levels are increasing due to human activities, posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. Therefore, new tools able to remediate Zn contamination in freshwater are highly recommended. Specimens of Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel) were exposed for 48 h and 7 days to a wide range of ZnCl2 nominal concentrations (1-10-50-100 mg/L), including those environmentally relevant. Cellulose-based nanosponges (CNS) were also tested to assess their safety and suitability for Zn removal from freshwater. Zebra mussels were exposed to 50 mg/L ZnCl2 alone or incubated with 1.25 g/L of CNS (2 h) and then removed by filtration. The effect of Zn decontamination induced by CNS has been verified by the acute toxicity bioassay Microtox®. DNA primary damage was investigated by the Comet assay; micronuclei frequency and nuclear morphological alterations were assessed by Cytome assay in mussels' haemocytes. The results confirmed the genotoxic effect of ZnCl2 in zebra mussel haemocytes at 48 h and 7-day exposure time. Zinc concentrations were measured in CNS, suggesting that cellulose-based nanosponges were able to remove Zn(II) by reducing its levels in exposure waters and soft tissues of D. polymorpha in agreement with the observed restoration of genetic damage exerted by zinc exposure alone.
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Eco-Interactions of Engineered Nanomaterials in the Marine Environment: Towards an Eco-Design Framework. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11081903. [PMID: 34443734 PMCID: PMC8398366 DOI: 10.3390/nano11081903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Marine nano-ecotoxicology has emerged with the purpose to assess the environmental risks associated with engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) among contaminants of emerging concerns entering the marine environment. ENMs’ massive production and integration in everyday life applications, associated with their peculiar physical chemical features, including high biological reactivity, have imposed a pressing need to shed light on risk for humans and the environment. Environmental safety assessment, known as ecosafety, has thus become mandatory with the perspective to develop a more holistic exposure scenario and understand biological effects. Here, we review the current knowledge on behavior and impact of ENMs which end up in the marine environment. A focus on titanium dioxide (n-TiO2) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), among metal-based ENMs massively used in commercial products, and polymeric NPs as polystyrene (PS), largely adopted as proxy for nanoplastics, is made. ENMs eco-interactions with chemical molecules including (bio)natural ones and anthropogenic pollutants, forming eco- and bio-coronas and link with their uptake and toxicity in marine organisms are discussed. An ecologically based design strategy (eco-design) is proposed to support the development of new ENMs, including those for environmental applications (e.g., nanoremediation), by balancing their effectiveness with no associated risk for marine organisms and humans.
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Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Cellulose Nanofibres Production Routes from Virgin and Recycled Raw Materials. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26092558. [PMID: 33924756 PMCID: PMC8125706 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nanocellulose-based materials are attracting an increasing interest for the positive role they could play in sustainable development; being originated from renewable resources. Moreover, cellulose has a high potential of recycling from both post-consumer waste and industrial waste. Both factors, i.e., recyclability and renewable resources; results are also extremely favourable in the perspective of circular economy. Despite all these positive aspects, an industrial production has yet to start. At the lab scale, many preparation methods of cellulose nanofibres (CNF) are available; here, the three most common are analysed: (1) enzymatic pre-treatment followed by homogenisation (ENZHO), (2) oxidative pre-treatment combined with homogenisation (TOHO) or (3) oxidative pre-treatment followed by sonication (TOSO). All three processes have been experimentally carried out starting from both virgin and recycled cellulose from industrial waste sludge. The environmental sustainability of these three routes is estimated by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using experimental lab scale data. In this scenario, the comparative LCA has pointed out a superior performance of the ENZHO process, followed by TOHO and, lastly, by TOSO. The influence of energy consumption on the final results has been further investigated by a sensitivity analysis, showing that the TOHO and TOSO routes could reach similar performances by scaling-up the process from the laboratory. The different typology of CNF obtained by conducting the ENZHO process with respect to the TEMPO-mediated oxidation approach is also outlined as an additional element to be considered for the final selection of a suitable process.
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Esposito MC, Corsi I, Russo GL, Punta C, Tosti E, Gallo A. The Era of Nanomaterials: A Safe Solution or a Risk for Marine Environmental Pollution? Biomolecules 2021; 11:441. [PMID: 33809769 PMCID: PMC8002239 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the application of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in environmental remediation gained increasing attention. Due to their large surface area and high reactivity, ENMs offer the potential for the efficient removal of pollutants from environmental matrices with better performances compared to conventional techniques. However, their fate and safety upon environmental application, which can be associated with their release into the environment, are largely unknown. It is essential to develop systems that can predict ENM interactions with biological systems, their overall environmental and human health impact. Until now, Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools have been employed to investigate ENMs potential environmental impact, from raw material production, design and to their final disposal. However, LCA studies focused on the environmental impact of the production phase lacking information on their environmental impact deriving from in situ employment. A recently developed eco-design framework aimed to fill this knowledge gap by using ecotoxicological tools that allow the assessment of potential hazards posed by ENMs to natural ecosystems and wildlife. In the present review, we illustrate the development of the eco-design framework and review the application of ecotoxicology as a valuable strategy to develop ecosafe ENMs for environmental remediation. Furthermore, we critically describe the currently available ENMs for marine environment remediation and discuss their pros and cons in safe environmental applications together with the need to balance benefits and risks promoting an environmentally safe nanoremediation (ecosafe) for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Consiglia Esposito
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; (M.C.E.); (G.L.R.); (E.T.)
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Gian Luigi Russo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; (M.C.E.); (G.L.R.); (E.T.)
- Institute of Food Sciences, National Research Council, 83100 Avellino, Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano and INSTM Local Unit, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Tosti
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; (M.C.E.); (G.L.R.); (E.T.)
| | - Alessandra Gallo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; (M.C.E.); (G.L.R.); (E.T.)
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12
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Abstract
Chemical pollution of water has raised great concerns among citizens, lawmakers, and nearly all manufacturing industries. As the legislation addressing liquid effluents becomes more stringent, water companies are increasingly scrutinized for their environmental performance. In this context, emergent contaminants represent a major challenge, and the remediation of water bodies and wastewater demands alternative sorbent materials. One of the most promising adsorbing materials for micropolluted water environments involves cyclodextrin (CD) polymers and cyclodextrin-containing polysaccharides. Although cyclodextrins are water-soluble and, thus, unusable as adsorbents in aqueous media, they can be feasibly polymerized by using different crosslinkers such as epichlorohydrin, polycarboxylic acids, and glutaraldehyde. Likewise, with those coupling agents or after substituting hydroxyl groups with more reactive moieties, cyclodextrin units can be covalently attached to a pre-existing polysaccharide. In this direction, the functionalization of chitosan, cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and other carbohydrate polymers with CDs is vastly found in the literature. For the system containing CDs to be used for remediation purposes, there are benefits from a synergy that arises from (i) the ability of CD units to interact selectively with a broad spectrum of molecules, forming inclusion complexes and higher-order supramolecular assemblies, (ii) the functional groups of the crosslinker comonomers, (iii) the three-dimensional structure of the crosslinked network, and/or (iv) the intrinsic characteristics of the polysaccharide backbone. In view of the most recent contributions regarding CD-based copolymers and CD-containing polysaccharides, this review discusses their performance as adsorbents in micropolluted water environments, as well as their interaction patterns, addressing the influence of their structural and physicochemical properties and their functionalization.
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13
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Alabresm A, Decho AW, Lead J. A novel method to estimate cellular internalization of nanoparticles into gram-negative bacteria: Non-lytic removal of outer membrane and cell wall. NANOIMPACT 2021; 21:100283. [PMID: 35559775 DOI: 10.1016/j.impact.2020.100283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria efficiently take up small organic molecules and ions. However, the internalization of particulate forms, specifically nanoparticles (NPs) has been understudied and is a newly-emerging area of interest. However, determination of true cellular internalization is challenging owing to the difficulty of separating the aqueous phase from bacteria-associated NPs and, more importantly, of differentiating between internalized and NPs sorbed on bacteria surfaces. In this work, we developed and validated an extraction method which can operationally estimate internalization of metal NPs into Gram-negative bacteria. The outer cell membrane and cell wall, collectively called the periplasm, was successfully removed from bacteria using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at an optimized exposure period and concentration, without lysis of bacteria. This was followed by standard digestion and metal measurements. Verification of each step of the methodology was conducted by assessing both cellular and metal behavior. Specifically, the combined approaches of live/dead staining of bacteria, optical density measurements, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and metal analyses of the supernatant indicated that the method operationally separated externally-sorbed NPs from those internalized actually localized within the bacterial cytoplasm. However, this new method is ideally used alongside other methods in a multi-method approach, to provide improved data quality. Therefore, it should be used with CSLM, FACS, TEM and other available methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjed Alabresm
- Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk (CENR), Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Biological Development of Shatt Al-Arab & N. Arabian Gulf, Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
| | - Alan W Decho
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jamie Lead
- Center for Environmental Nanoscience and Risk (CENR), Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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14
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Riva L, Punta C, Sacchetti A. Co‐Polymeric Nanosponges from Cellulose Biomass as Heterogeneous Catalysts for amine‐catalyzed Organic Reactions. ChemCatChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202001157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” Politecnico di Milano 20131 Milano Italy
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” Politecnico di Milano 20131 Milano Italy
- C. N. R. Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare (ICRM) 20131 Milano Italy
| | - Alessandro Sacchetti
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” Politecnico di Milano 20131 Milano Italy
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15
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Suitability of a Cellulose-Based Nanomaterial for the Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Freshwaters: A Case-Study Showing the Recovery of Cadmium Induced DNA Integrity Loss, Cell Proliferation Increase, Nuclear Morphology and Chromosomal Alterations on Dreissena polymorpha. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10091837. [PMID: 32938003 PMCID: PMC7558755 DOI: 10.3390/nano10091837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The contamination of freshwaters by heavy metals represents a great problem, posing a threat for human and environmental health. Cadmium is classified as carcinogen to humans and its mechanism of carcinogenicity includes genotoxic events. In this study a recently developed eco-friendly cellulose-based nanosponge (CNS) was investigated as a candidate in freshwater nano-remediation process. For this purpose, CdCl2 (0.05 mg L−1) contaminated artificial freshwater (AFW) was treated with CNS (1.25 g L−1 for 2 h), and cellular responses were analyzed before and after CNS treatment in Dreissena polymorpha hemocytes. A control group (AFW) and a negative control group (CNS in AFW) were also tested. DNA primary damage was evaluated by Comet assay while chromosomal damage and cell proliferation were assessed by Cytome assay. AFW exposed to CNS did not cause any genotoxic effect in zebra mussel hemocytes. Moreover, DNA damage and cell proliferation induced by Cd(II) turned down to control level after 2 days when CNS were used. A reduction of Cd(II)-induced micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities was also observed. CNS was thus found to be a safe and effective candidate in cadmium remediation process being efficient in metal sequestering, restoring cellular damage exerted by Cd(II) exposure, without altering cellular physiological activity.
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16
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Riva L, Pastori N, Panozzo A, Antonelli M, Punta C. Nanostructured Cellulose-Based Sorbent Materials for Water Decontamination from Organic Dyes. NANOMATERIALS 2020; 10:nano10081570. [PMID: 32785034 PMCID: PMC7466597 DOI: 10.3390/nano10081570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Nanostructured materials have been recently proposed in the field of environmental remediation. The use of nanomaterials as building blocks for the design of nano-porous micro-dimensional systems is particularly promising since it can overcome the (eco-)toxicological risks associated with the use of nano-sized technologies. Following this approach, we report here the application of a nanostructured cellulose-based material as sorbent for effective removal of organic dyes from water. It consists of a micro- and nano-porous sponge-like system derived by thermal cross-linking among (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF), branched polyethylenimine 25 kDa (bPEI), and citric acid (CA). The sorbent efficiency was tested for four different organic dyes commonly used for fabric printing (Naphthol Blue Black, Orange II Sodium Salt, Brilliant Blue R, Cibacron Brilliant Yellow), by conducting both thermodynamic and kinetic studies. The material performance was compared with that of an activated carbon, commonly used for this application, in order to highlight the potentialities and limits of this biomass-based new material. The possibility of regeneration and reuse of the sorbent was also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (N.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Nadia Pastori
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (N.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Alice Panozzo
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (N.P.); (A.P.)
| | - Manuela Antonelli
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.A.); (C.P.); Tel.: +39-0223-996-407 (M.A.); +39-0223-993-026 (C.P.)
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (L.R.); (N.P.); (A.P.)
- Centro Nazionale Ricerche (C. N. R.) Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare (ICRM), 20131 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.A.); (C.P.); Tel.: +39-0223-996-407 (M.A.); +39-0223-993-026 (C.P.)
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17
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Fiorati A, Bellingeri A, Punta C, Corsi I, Venditti I. Silver Nanoparticles for Water Pollution Monitoring and Treatments: Ecosafety Challenge and Cellulose-Based Hybrids Solution. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1635. [PMID: 32717864 PMCID: PMC7465245 DOI: 10.3390/polym12081635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in many advanced nanotechnologies, due to their versatile, easy and cheap preparations combined with peculiar chemical-physical properties. Their increased production and integration in environmental applications including water treatment raise concerns for their impact on humans and the environment. An eco-design strategy that makes it possible to combine the best material performances with no risk for the natural ecosystems and living beings has been recently proposed. This review envisages potential hybrid solutions of AgNPs for water pollution monitoring and remediation to satisfy their successful, environmentally safe (ecosafe) application. Being extremely efficient in pollutants sensing and degradation, their ecosafe application can be achieved in combination with polymeric-based materials, especially with cellulose, by following an eco-design approach. In fact, (AgNPs)-cellulose hybrids have the double advantage of being easily produced using recycled material, with low costs and possible reuse, and of being ecosafe, if properly designed. An updated view of the use and prospects of these advanced hybrids AgNP-based materials is provided, which will surely speed their environmental application with consequent significant economic and environmental impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Fiorati
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Arianna Bellingeri
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.B.); (I.C.)
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.B.); (I.C.)
| | - Iole Venditti
- Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University of Rome, via della Vasca Navale 79, 00146 Rome, Italy
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18
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Hemine K, Skwierawska A, Kernstein A, Kozłowska-Tylingo K. Cyclodextrin polymers as efficient adsorbents for removing toxic non-biodegradable pimavanserin from pharmaceutical wastewaters. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 250:126250. [PMID: 32234618 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Presence of even small amount of active pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment carries risks to human and animal health, presenting an important issue. The paper presents issues related to the new drug - pimavanserin (PMV). Biological treatment efficiency of pimavanserin (PMV) was evaluated using lab-scale Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR). It has been shown to have a negative effect on aquatic organisms by classifying it as a toxic compound (EC50 = 8 mgL-1). The level of biological degradation of PMV was insufficient (37%) and intensively foam formation caused operational problems. For this reason, in this study polymers based on cyclodextrins (CDs) were synthesized and used as adsorbents alternative to active carbons to effectively separate PMV from real industrial waste streams. Crosslinked β- and γ-CD polymers (β- and γ-NS), obtained in reaction with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), were fully characterized by physicochemical methods. The adsorption equilibrium data were interpreted using Freundlich and Langmuir models. The sorption process was fast (60 s) and the efficiency of PMV separation from model waste waters was 93% and 81% for β- and γ-NS, respectively. Maximum polymer capacity was found at 52.08 mg g-1 for β-NS and 23.26 mg g-1 for γ-NS. The interactions of PMV with CDs have been studied and indicate that major mechanism of the sorption is based on supramolecular interaction and capture to polymer network. Described biodegradable and reusable materials are perfect example of correctly selected adsorbent for separation of target substance from postproduction aqueous media.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hemine
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Functional Materials, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - A Skwierawska
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Functional Materials, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - A Kernstein
- Department of Chemistry and Technology of Functional Materials, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - K Kozłowska-Tylingo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
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19
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Liberatori G, Grassi G, Guidi P, Bernardeschi M, Fiorati A, Scarcelli V, Genovese M, Faleri C, Protano G, Frenzilli G, Punta C, Corsi I. Effect-Based Approach to Assess Nanostructured Cellulose Sponge Removal Efficacy of Zinc Ions from Seawater to Prevent Ecological Risks. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 10:E1283. [PMID: 32629917 PMCID: PMC7407410 DOI: 10.3390/nano10071283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
To encourage the applicability of nano-adsorbent materials for heavy metal ion removal from seawater and limit any potential side effects for marine organisms, an ecotoxicological evaluation based on a biological effect-based approach is presented. ZnCl2 (10 mg L-1) contaminated artificial seawater (ASW) was treated with newly developed eco-friendly cellulose-based nanosponges (CNS) (1.25 g L-1 for 2 h), and the cellular and tissue responses of marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were measured before and after CNS treatment. A control group (ASW only) and a negative control group (CNS in ASW) were also tested. Methods: A significant recovery of Zn-induced damages in circulating immune and gill cells and mantle edges was observed in mussels exposed after CNS treatment. Genetic and chromosomal damages reversed to control levels in mussels' gill cells (DNA integrity level, nuclear abnormalities and apoptotic cells) and hemocytes (micronuclei), in which a recovery of lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) was also observed. Damage to syphons, loss of cilia by mantle edge epithelial cells and an increase in mucous cells in ZnCl2-exposed mussels were absent in specimens after CNS treatment, in which the mantle histology resembled that of the controls. No effects were observed in mussels exposed to CNS alone. As further proof of CNS' ability to remove Zn(II) from ASW, a significant reduction of >90% of Zn levels in ASW after CNS treatment was observed (from 6.006 to 0.510 mg L-1). Ecotoxicological evaluation confirmed the ability of CNS to remove Zn from ASW by showing a full recovery of Zn-induced toxicological responses to the levels of mussels exposed to ASW only (controls). An effect-based approach was thus proven to be useful in order to further support the environmentally safe (ecosafety) application of CNS for heavy metal removal from seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Liberatori
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.L.); (G.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Giacomo Grassi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.L.); (G.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Patrizia Guidi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.G.); (M.B.); (V.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Margherita Bernardeschi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.G.); (M.B.); (V.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Andrea Fiorati
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Vittoria Scarcelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.G.); (M.B.); (V.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Massimo Genovese
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.G.); (M.B.); (V.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Claudia Faleri
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Protano
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.L.); (G.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Giada Frenzilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Section of Applied Biology and Genetics, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.G.); (M.B.); (V.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering “G. Natta” and INSTM Local Unit, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy; (A.F.); (C.P.)
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences and INSTM Local Unit, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.L.); (G.G.); (G.P.)
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20
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Silva NHCS, Figueira P, Fabre E, Pinto RJB, Pereira ME, Silvestre AJD, Marrucho IM, Vilela C, Freire CSR. Dual nanofibrillar-based bio-sorbent films composed of nanocellulose and lysozyme nanofibrils for mercury removal from spring waters. Carbohydr Polym 2020; 238:116210. [PMID: 32299563 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The present study explores the preparation of dual nanofibrillar-based bio-sorbent films composed of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs) for application in the removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions. The free-standing films were fabricated via simple vacuum filtration of water suspensions of CNFs and LNFs and disclose good mechanical and thermal properties. The Hg(II) removal efficiency was evaluated by atomic fluorescence spectroscopy in ultra-pure and natural spring waters contaminated with environmental realistic levels of mercury (50 μg L-1). The removal efficiency is pH-dependent reaching a maximum of 99 % after 24 h at a pH value close to the isoelectric point of the protein. Under the experimental conditions, the sorption kinetics are well described by the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models, suggesting a chemisorption mechanism. These results demonstrate the ability of the dual nanofibrillar-based films to remove Hg(II) from water samples reaching a residual concentration lower than the guideline value for water intended for human consumption (1 μg L-1). Therefore, the CNFs/LNFs bio-sorbents might be a solution to treat low-concentrated mercury-contaminated waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno H C S Silva
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Paula Figueira
- CESAM and LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Elaine Fabre
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CESAM and LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ricardo J B Pinto
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Maria Eduarda Pereira
- CESAM and LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Armando J D Silvestre
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel M Marrucho
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Vilela
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carmen S R Freire
- CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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21
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Rubin Pedrazzo A, Smarra A, Caldera F, Musso G, Dhakar NK, Cecone C, Hamedi A, Corsi I, Trotta F. Eco-Friendly β-cyclodextrin and Linecaps Polymers for the Removal of Heavy Metals. Polymers (Basel) 2019; 11:polym11101658. [PMID: 31614648 PMCID: PMC6835710 DOI: 10.3390/polym11101658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Environment-friendly nanosponges, having a high content of carboxyl groups, were synthesized by crosslinking β-cyclodextrin and linecaps, a highly soluble pea starch derivative, with citric acid in water. Additionally, pyromellitic nanosponges were prepared by reacting β-cyclodextrin and linecaps with pyromellitic dianhydride in dimethyl sulfoxide and used in comparison with the citric nanosponges. After ion-exchange of the carboxyl groups H+ with sodium ions, the ability of the nanosponges to sequester heavy metal cations was investigated. At a metal concentration of 500 ppm, the pyromellitate nanosponges exhibited a higher retention capacity than the citrate nanosponges. At lower metal concentrations (≤50 ppm) both the citrate and the pyromellitate nanosponges showed high retention capacities (up to 94% of the total amount of metal), while, in the presence of interfering sea water salts, the citrate nanosponges were able to selectively adsorb a significantly higher amount of heavy metals than the pyromellitate nanosponges, almost double in the case of Cu2+.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessandra Smarra
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Caldera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Musso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Nilesh Kumar Dhakar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Claudio Cecone
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
| | - Asma Hamedi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Yazd University, 89195741 Yazd, Iran.
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Francesco Trotta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125 Torino, Italy.
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22
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Riva L, Fiorati A, Sganappa A, Melone L, Punta C, Cametti M. Naked-Eye Heterogeneous Sensing of Fluoride Ions by Co-Polymeric Nanosponge Systems Comprising Aromatic-Imide-Functionalized Nanocellulose and Branched Polyethyleneimine. Chempluschem 2019; 84:1512-1518. [PMID: 31943927 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.201900348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneous colorimetric sensors for fluoride ions were obtained by cross-linking TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) with chemically modified branched polyethyleneimine 25 kDa (bPEI). Functionalization of bPEI primary amino groups with aromatic anhydrides led to the formation of the corresponding mono- and bis-imides on the grafted polymers (f-bPEI). A microwave-assisted procedure allowed the optimization of the synthetic protocol by reducing reaction time from 17 h to 30 minutes. Hydrogels obtained by mixing different ratios of TOCNF, bPEI and f-bPEI were lyophilized and thermally treated at about 100 °C to promote the formation of amide bonds between the amino groups of poly-cationic polymers and the carboxylic groups of cellulose nanofibers. This approach generated a series of cellulose nanosponges S1-S3 which were characterized by FT-IR and by solid state 13 C CPMAS NMR. These sponge materials can act as colorimetric sensors for the selective naked-eye recognition of fluoride ions over chloride, phosphate and acetate ions at concentrations of up to 0.05 M in DMSO. Moreover, when the sponges were functionalized with perylene tetracarboxylic diimide, successful naked-eye detection was achieved with only 0.02 % w/w of chromophore units per gram of material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Riva
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia
| | - Andrea Fiorati
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia
| | - Aurora Sganappa
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia
| | - Lucio Melone
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia.,Università Telematica e-Campus, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060, Novedrate, Como, Italia
| | - Carlo Punta
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia
| | - Massimo Cametti
- Department of Chemistry Materials and Chemical Engineering, "Giulio Natta" Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italia
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Eco-design and Eco-efficiency Competencies Development in Engineering and Design Students. EDUCATION SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/educsci9020126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of vital competencies and a mindset to rethink products, production, and business models in engineering and design students is presently of great importance. These future professionals will play a key role in the development of sustainable products. Within Eco-design and Eco-efficiency curricular unit, an assignment was developed that consisted of the development of an eco-design and eco-efficiency study of a given product, provided by a real industrial company. In this paper, the challenge description and application are reported, as well as the key conclusions.
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24
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Vilela C, Moreirinha C, Almeida A, Silvestre AJD, Freire CSR. Zwitterionic Nanocellulose-Based Membranes for Organic Dye Removal. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 12:E1404. [PMID: 31052184 PMCID: PMC6539420 DOI: 10.3390/ma12091404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The development of efficient and environmentally-friendly nanomaterials to remove contaminants and pollutants (including harmful organic dyes) ravaging water sources is of major importance. Herein, zwitterionic nanocomposite membranes consisting of cross-linked poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) were prepared and tested as tools for water remediation. These nanocomposite membranes fabricated via the one-pot polymerization of the zwitterionic monomer, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, within the BNC three-dimensional porous network, exhibit thermal stability up to 250 °C, good mechanical performance (Young's modulus ≥ 430 MPa) and high water-uptake capacity (627%-912%) in different pH media. Moreover, these zwitterionic membranes reduced the bacterial concentration of both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) pathogenic bacteria with maxima of 4.3- and 1.8-log CFU reduction, respectively, which might be a major advantage in reducing or avoiding bacterial growth in contaminated water. The removal of two water-soluble model dyes, namely methylene blue (MB, cationic) and methyl orange (MO, anionic), from water was also assessed and the results demonstrated that both dyes were successfully removed under the studied conditions, reaching a maximum of ionic dye adsorption of ca. 4.4-4.5 mg g-1. This combination of properties provides these PMPC/BNC nanocomposites with potential for application as antibacterial bio-based adsorbent membranes for water remediation of anionic and cationic dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Vilela
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO ⁻ Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Moreirinha
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO ⁻ Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Adelaide Almeida
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Armando J D Silvestre
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO ⁻ Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Carmen S R Freire
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO ⁻ Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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