Harnessing the power of bacterial laccases for xenobiotic degradation in water: A 10-year overview

Industrialization and population growth are leading to the production of significant amounts of sewage containing hazardous xenobiotic compounds. These compounds pose a threat to human and animal health, as well as the overall ecosystem. To combat this issue, chemical, physical, and biological techniques have been used to remove these contaminants from water bodies affected by human activity. Biotechnological methods have proven effective in utilizing microorganisms and enzymes, particularly laccases, to address this problem. Laccases possess versatile enzymatic characteristics and have shown promise in degrading different xenobiotic compounds found in municipal, industrial, and medical wastewater. Both free enzymes and crude enzyme extracts have demonstrated success in the biotransformation of these compounds. Despite these advancements, the widespread use of laccases for bioremediation and wastewater treatment faces challenges due to the complex composition, high salt concentration, and extreme pH often present in contaminated media. These factors negatively impact protein stability, recovery, and recycling processes, hindering their large-scale application. These issues can be addressed by focusing on large-scale production, resolving operation problems, and utilizing cutting-edge genetic and protein engineering techniques. Additionally, finding novel sources of laccases, understanding their biochemical properties, enhancing their catalytic activity and thermostability, and improving their production processes are crucial steps towards overcoming these limitations. By doing so, enzyme-based biological degradation processes can be improved, resulting in more efficient removal of xenobiotics from water systems. This review summarizes the latest research on bacterial laccases over the past decade. It covers the advancements in identifying their structures, characterizing their biochemical properties, exploring their modes of action, and discovering their potential applications in the biotransformation and bioremediation of xenobiotic pollutants commonly present in water sources.

Heavy metal (Cu2+) removal from wastewater by metal-organic framework composite adsorbent: Simulation-based- artificial neural network and response surface methodology

Metal-organic framework (MOF)--based composites have received significant attention in a variety of applications, including pollutant adsorption processes. The current investigation was designed to model, forecast, and optimize heavy metal (Cu2+) removal from wastewater using a MOF nanocomposite. This work has been modeled by response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms. In addition, the optimization of the mentioned factors has been performed through the RSM method to find the optimal conditions. The findings show that RSM and ANN can accurately forecast the adsorption process's the Cu2+ removal efficiency (RE). The maximum values of RE are achieved at the highest value of time (150 min), the highest value of adsorbent dosage (0.008 g), and the highest value of pH (=6). The R2 values obtained were 0.9995, 0.9992, and 0.9996 for ANN modeling of adsorption capacity based on different adsorbent dosages, Cu2+ solution pHs, and different ion concentrations, respectively. The ANN demonstrated a high level of accuracy in predicting the local minima of the graph. In addition, the RSM optimization results showed that the optimum mode for RE occurred at an adsorbent dosage value of 0.007 g and a time value of 144.229 min.

Sustainable production of bacterial flocculants by nylon-6,6 microplastics hydrolysate utilizing Brucella intermedia ZL-06

Nylon-6,6 microplastics (NMPs) in aquatic systems have emerged as potential contaminants to the global environment and have garnered immense consideration over the years. Unfortunately, there is currently no efficient method available to eliminate NMPs from sewage. This study aims to address this issue by isolating Brucella intermedia ZL-06, a bacterium capable of producing a bacterial polysaccharide-based flocculant (PBF). The PBF generated from this bacterium shows promising efficacy in effectively flocculating NMPs. Subsequently, the precipitated flocs (NMPs + PBF) were utilized as sustainable feedstock for synthesizing PBF. The study yielded 6.91 g/L PBF under optimum conditions. Genome sequencing analysis was conducted to study the mechanisms of PBF synthesis and nylon-6,6 degradation. The PBF exhibited impressive flocculating capacity of 90.1 mg/g of PBF when applied to 0.01 mm NMPs, aided by the presence of Ca2+. FTIR and XPS analysis showed the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine groups in PBF. The flocculation performance of PBF conformed to Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order adsorption kinetics model. These findings present a promising approach for reducing the production costs of PBF by utilizing NMPs as sustainable nutrient sources.

Lignin developmental patterns and Casparian strip as apoplastic barriers: A review

Lignin and Casparian strips are two essential components of plant cells that play critical roles in plant development regulate nutrients and water across the plants cell. Recent studies have extensively investigated lignin diversity and Casparian strip formation, providing valuable insights into plant physiology. This review presents the established lignin biosynthesis pathway, as well as the developmental patterns of lignin and Casparian strip and transcriptional network associated with Casparian strip formation. It describes the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that regulate lignin biosynthesis and deposition in different plants cell types and tissues. Additionally, the review highlights recent studies that have uncovered novel lignin biosynthesis genes and enzymatic pathways, expanding our understanding of lignin diversity. This review also discusses the developmental patterns of Casparian strip in roots and their role in regulating nutrient and water transport, focusing on recent genetic and molecular studies that have identified regulators of Casparian strip formation. Previous research has shown that lignin biosynthesis genes also play a role in Casparian strip formation, suggesting that these processes are interconnected. In conclusion, this comprehensive overview provides insights into the developmental patterns of lignin diversity and Casparian strip as apoplastic barriers. It also identifies future research directions, including the functional characterization of novel lignin biosynthesis genes and the identification of additional regulators of Casparian strip formation. Overall, this review enhances our understanding of the complex and interconnected processes that drive plant growth, pathogen defense, regulation and development.

Effects of CO2 concentration and time on algal biomass film, NO3-N concentration, and pH in the membrane bioreactor: Simulation-based ANN, RSM and NSGA-II

The practice of aquaculture is associated with the generation of a substantial quantity of effluent. Microalgae must effectively assimilate nitrogen and phosphorus from their surrounding environment for growth. This study modeled the algal biomass film, NO3-N concentration, and pH in the membrane bioreactor using the response surface methodology (RSM) and an artificial neural network (ANN). Furthermore, it was suggested that the optimal condition for each parameter be determined. The results of ANN modeling showed that ANN with a structure of 5-3 and employing the transfer functions tansig-logsig demonstrated the highest level of accuracy. This was evidenced by the obtained values of coefficient (R2) = 0.998, R = 0.999, mean squared error (MAE) = 0.0856, and mean square error (MSE) = 0.143. The ANN model, characterized by a 5-5 structure and employing the tansig-logsig transfer function, demonstrates superior accuracy when predicting the concentration of NO3-N and pH. This is evidenced by the high values of R2 (0.996), R (0.998), MAE (0.00162), and MSE (0.0262). The RSM was afterward employed to maximize the performance of algal film biomass, pH levels, and NO3-N concentrations. The optimal conditions for the algal biomass film were a concentration of 2.884 mg/L and a duration of 6.589 days. Similarly, the most favorable conditions for the NO3-N concentration and pH were 2.984 mg/L and 6.787 days, respectively. Therefore, this research uses non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA II) to find the optimal NO3-N concentration, algal biomass film, and pH for product or process quality. The region has the greatest alkaline pH and lowest NO3-N content.

Adsorption of Eosin B from Wastewater onto the Prepared Porous Anion Exchange Membrane

This research describes the fabrication of the porous trimethylamine (TMA)-grafted anion exchange membrane (AEM) over a phase inversion process. The synthesis of the generated AEM was verified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fabricated porous AEM showed 240% water uptake (WR), 1.45 mg/g ion exchange capacity (IEC), and a 9.0% linear expansion ratio (LER) at 25 °C. It exhibited a porous structure and higher thermal stability. It was utilized to remove eosin B (EB) from wastewater via the process of adsorption. The adsorption capacity of EB increased with time and the starting concentration of EB while decreasing with temperature and the AEM dosage. Adsorption isotherm investigation results showed that EB adsorption onto the porous AEM followed the Langmuir isotherm because the value of correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.992) was close to unity. Because the correlation coefficient was close to one, it was determined through adsorption kinetic experiments that the adsorption of EB on the produced porous AEM was suitable for a pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic study about process of EB adsorption on the porous AEM revealed that there was an exothermic (ΔH° = -16.60 kJ/mol) and spontaneous process.

Comprehensive Investigation of Cu2+ Adsorption from Wastewater Using Olive-Waste-Derived Adsorbents: Experimental and Molecular Insights

This study investigates the efficacy of adsorbents from locally sourced olive waste-encompassing olive skins, leaves, and pits, recovered from the initial centrifugation of olives (OWP)-and a composite with sodium alginate (OWPSA) for the removal of Cu2+ ions from synthetic wastewater. Experimental analyses conducted at room temperature, with an initial Cu2+ concentration of 50 mg/L and a solid/liquid ratio of 1 g/L, showed that the removal efficiencies were approximately 79.54% and 94.54% for OWP and OWPSA, respectively, highlighting the positive impact of alginate on adsorption capacity. Utilizing statistical physics isotherm models, particularly the single-layer model coupled to real gas (SLMRG), allowed us to robustly fit the experimental data, providing insights into the adsorption mechanisms. Thermodynamic parameters affirmed the spontaneity and endothermic nature of the processes. Adsorption kinetics were interpreted effectively using the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model. Molecular modeling investigations, including the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS), density functional theory (DFT), and atom-in-molecule (AIM) analysis, unveiled intricate molecular interactions among the adsorbent components-cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and alginate-and the pollutant Cu2+, confirming their physically interactive nature. These findings emphasize the synergistic application of experimental and theoretical approaches, providing a comprehensive understanding of copper adsorption dynamics at the molecular level. This methodology holds promise for unraveling intricate processes across various adsorbent materials in wastewater treatment applications.

Tomato seed bio-priming with Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAR: a study on plant growth parameters under sodium fluoride stress

The primary goal of this experiment is to examine the effectiveness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAR as a rhizobacterium that promotes plant growth in mitigating the negative effects of fluoride-induced stress in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants. A total of 16 rhizobacterial strains were tested for plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes, with isolates S1, S2, and S3 exhibiting different characteristics. Furthermore, growth kinetics studies revealed that these isolates were resilient to fluoride stress (10, 20, 40, and 80 ppm), with isolate S2 exhibiting notable resilience compared to the other two strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed isolate S2 as P. aeruginosa strain PAR. Physiological analyses demonstrated that P. aeruginosa strain PAR had a beneficial impact on plant properties under fluoride stress, comprising seed germination, root length, shoot height, relative water content, and leaf area, the strain also impacted the buildup of glycine betaine, soluble sugar, and proline, demonstrating its significance in enhancing plant stress tolerance. In P. aeruginosa strain PAR-treated plants, chlorophyll content increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and less oxidative stress. The strain modified antioxidant enzyme action (catalase, ascorbate, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), which contributed to improved stress resilience. Mineral analysis revealed a decrease in sodium and fluoride concentrations while increasing magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron levels, emphasizing the strain's significance in nutrient management. Correlation and principal component analysis revealed extensive correlations between physiological and biochemical parameters, underscoring P. aeruginosa strain PAR's multifaceted impact on plant growth and stress response. This study offers valuable information on effectively utilizing PGPR, particularly P. aeruginosa strain PAR, in fluoride-contaminated soils for sustainable agriculture. It presents a promising biological strategy to enhance crop resilience and productivity.

Unveiling the resistance of native weed communities: insights for managing invasive weed species in disturbed environments

Weed communities influence the dynamics of ecosystems, particularly in disturbed environments where anthropogenic activities often result in higher pollution. Understanding the dynamics existing between native weed communities and invasive species in disturbed environments is crucial for effective management and normal ecosystem functioning. Recognising the potential resistance of native weed communities to invasion in disturbed environments can help identify suitable native plants for restoration operations. This review aims to investigate the adaptations exhibited by native and non-native weeds that may affect invasions within disturbed environments. Factors such as ecological characteristics, altered soil conditions, and adaptations of native weed communities that potentially confer a competitive advantage relative to non-native or invasive weeds in disturbed environments are analysed. Moreover, the roles of biotic interactions such as competition, mutualistic relationships, and allelopathy in shaping the invasion resistance of native weed communities are described. Emphasis is given to the consideration of the resistance of native weeds as a key factor in invasion dynamics that provides insights for conservation and restoration efforts in disturbed environments. Additionally, this review underscores the need for further research to unravel the underlying mechanisms and to devise targeted management strategies. These strategies aim to promote the resistance of native weed communities and mitigate the negative effects of invasive weed species in disturbed environments. By delving deeper into these insights, we can gain an understanding of the ecological dynamics within disturbed ecosystems and develop valuable insights for the management of invasive species, and to restore long-term ecosystem sustainability.

Chitosan-based intelligent polymeric networks for site-specific colon medication delivery: A comprehensive study on controlled release of diloxanide furoate and network formation dynamics

Oral medications are prone to gastric degradation and enzymatic inactivation, diminishing their efficacy. This study investigates a solution by developing intelligent polymeric networks, incorporating chitosan, methacrylic acid, N, N, methylene bisacrylamide, and montmorillonite clay, to enable the controlled release of Diloxanide Furoate (DF), an anti-protozoal drug. Employing a swelling-assisted diffusion technique, drug loading percentages varied from 63.96 % to 76.82 % among different formulations. Increased chitosan and methacrylic acid content enhanced drug loading, while N, N, methylene bisacrylamide and montmorillonite clay demonstrated an inverse relationship affecting diffusion and swelling. Equilibrium swelling studies unveiled formulation-dependent behaviors, with chitosan reducing swelling and methacrylic acid promoting it. Higher N, N, methylene bisacrylamide concentrations decreased swelling, indicating a denser cross-linked structure, while montmorillonite clay reduced hydrophilicity and swelling capacity. Further analyses confirmed successful gel formation, particularly in formulations with higher chitosan, methacrylic acid, and N, N, methylene bisacrylamide content, while montmorillonite clay limited gel fraction due to restricted polymer chain mobility. Techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analyses supported network development, enhancing thermal stability and cross-linking density. This research underscores the flexibility of polymeric networks for precise drug delivery, offering potential advancements in targeted therapies for various medical conditions.

Nano-Agrochemicals as Substitutes for Pesticides: Prospects and Risks

This review delves into the mesmerizing technology of nano-agrochemicals, specifically pesticides and herbicides, and their potential to aid in the achievement of UN SDG 17, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty globally. The global market for conventional pesticides and herbicides is expected to reach USD 82.9 billion by 2027, growing 2.7% annually, with North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region being the biggest markets. However, the extensive use of chemical pesticides has proven adverse effects on human health as well as the ecosystem. Therefore, the efficacy, mechanisms, and environmental impacts of conventional pesticides require sustainable alternatives for effective pest management. Undoubtedly, nano-agrochemicals have the potential to completely transform agriculture by increasing crop yields with reduced environmental contamination. The present review discusses the effectiveness and environmental impact of nanopesticides as promising strategies for sustainable agriculture. It provides a concise overview of green nano-agrochemical synthesis and agricultural applications, and the efficacy of nano-agrochemicals against pests including insects and weeds. Nano-agrochemical pesticides are investigated due to their unique size and exceptional performance advantages over conventional ones. Here, we have focused on the environmental risks and current state of nano-agrochemicals, emphasizing the need for further investigations. The review also draws the attention of agriculturists and stakeholders to the current trends of nanomaterial use in agriculture especially for reducing plant diseases and pests. A discussion of the pros and cons of nano-agrochemicals is paramount for their application in sustainable agriculture.

Tailoring Vanadium-Based Magnetic Catalyst by In Situ Encapsulation of Tungsten Disulfide and Applications in Abatement of Multiple Pollutants

A magnetic nanocomposite of tungsten and vanadium was employed as a catalyst for the mitigation of water contaminants, including a carcinogenic dye (Congo red, CR), a widely used pesticide (glyphosate), and the bacterial strain Escherichia coli. Additionally, it was subjected to several characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy examination validated the synthesized nanoparticles' crystalline nature, and scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis were employed to examine the morphology and elemental composition of the catalyst. The use of thermogravimetric analysis enabled the elaboration of the thermal behavior of tungsten sulfide-vanadium decorated with Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The experiments were conducted under visible light conditions. The highest levels of photodegradation of 96.24 ± 2.5% for CR and 98 ± 1.8% for glyphosate were observed following a 180 min exposure to visible light at pH values of 6 and 8, respectively. The quantum yields for CR and Gly were calculated to be 9.2 × 10-3 and 4.9 × 10-4 molecules photon-1, respectively. The findings from the scavenger analysis suggest the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in the degradation mechanism. The study evaluated the inhibition of E. coli growth when exposed to a concentration of 0.1 g/10 mL of the photocatalyst, utilizing a 1 mL sample of the bacterial strain. The successful elimination of CR and glyphosate from water-based solutions, along with the subsequent antibacterial experiments, has substantiated the efficacy of the photocatalyst in the field of environmental remediation.

Prolonging the Durability of Maritime Constructions through a Sustainable and Salt-Resistant Cement Composite

This research investigates the long-term resilience of an environmentally friendly cement blend comprising Egyptian Ordinary Portland Cement OPC and Ground-Granulated Blast Furnace Slag GGBFS when exposed to a corrosive seawater environment. This scientific investigation explores the effects of exposure to seawater on various properties of cement pastes, encompassing parameters such as free lime content (FLC), chemically combined water content (CWC), bulk density (BD), total porosity (ϕ), total sulfate content, total chloride content, and compressive strength (CS). By contrast, Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), FT-IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis can be utilized to investigate the influence of exposure to seawater on the hydration products of GGBFS cement pastes over a period of up to one year. This analytical approach offers valuable insights into the alterations that occur in hydration products and their resilience when subjected to seawater conditions. The results obtained from this investigation reveal that all cement pastes incorporating GGBFS exhibit heightened resistance to deterioration in seawater, with slag cement containing 60 wt. % GGBFS and achieving a notable compressive strength of 85.7 Mpa after one year of immersion in seawater. These findings underscore the capacity of these cement blends to effectively withstand challenges in durability in marine environments.

Infections associated with SARS-CoV-2 exploited via nanoformulated photodynamic therapy

Background and purpose

The pandemic of COVID-19 has highlighted the need for managing infectious diseases, which spreads by airborne transmission leading to serious health, social, and economic issues. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus with a 60-140 nm diameter and particle-like features, which majorly accounts for this disease. Expanding diagnostic capabilities, developing safe vaccinations with long-lasting immunity, and formulating effective medications are the strategies to be investigated.

Experimental approach

For the literature search, electronic databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were used as the source. Search terms like 'Nano-mediated PDT,' 'PDT for SARS-CoV-2', and 'Nanotechnology in treatment for SARS-CoV-2' were used. Out of 275 initially selected articles, 198 were chosen after the abstract screening. During the full-text screening, 80 papers were excluded, and 18 were eliminated during data extraction. Preference was given to articles published from 2018 onwards, but a few older references were cited for their valuable information.

Key results

Synthetic nanoparticles (NPs) have a close structural resemblance to viruses and interact greatly with their proteins due to their similarities in the configurations. NPs had previously been reported to be effective against a variety of viruses. In this way, with nanoparticles, photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be a viable alternative to antibiotics in fighting against microbial infections. The protocol of PDT includes the activation of photosensitizers using specific light to destroy microorganisms in the presence of oxygen, treating several respiratory diseases.

Conclusion

The use of PDT in treating COVID-19 requires intensive investigations, which has been reviewed in this manuscript, including a computational approach to formulating effective photosensitizers.

Corrosion Inhibition of Azo Compounds Derived from Schiff Bases on Mild Steel (XC70) in (HCl, 1 M DMSO) Medium: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

The inhibitory activity of three prepared azo compounds derived from Schiff bases, namely, bis[5-(phenylazo)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde]-4,4'-diaminophenylmethane (C1), bis[5-(4-methylphenylazo)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde]-4,4'-diaminophenylmethane (C2), and bis[5-(4-bromophenylazo)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde]-4,4'-diaminophenylmethane (C3), against corrosion of steel type XC70 in (HCl, 1 M DMSO) medium was investigated experimentally by electrochemical measurements and theoretically using density functional theory (DFT). The correlation between corrosion inhibition and concentration is direct. The maximum inhibition efficiency at 6 × 10^-5 M for the three azo compounds derived from Schiff bases was 64.37, 87.27, and 55.47% for C1, C2, and C3, respectively. The Tafel curves indicate that the inhibitors follow a mixed but predominantly anodic inhibitor system and have a Langmuir isothermal adsorption process. The observed inhibitory behavior of compounds was supported by DFT calculation. It was also found that there was a strong correspondence between the theoretical and experimental results.

Modeling and Optimizing the Crystal Violet Dye Adsorption on Kaolinite Mixed with Cellulose Waste Red Bean Peels: Insights into the Kinetic, Isothermal, Thermodynamic, and Mechanistic Study

In this study, a new eco-friendly kaolinite-cellulose (Kaol/Cel) composite was prepared from waste red bean peels (Phaseolus vulgaris) as a source of cellulose to serve as a promising and effective adsorbent for the removal of crystal violet (CV) dye from aqueous solutions. Its characteristics were investigated through the use of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and zero-point of charge (pH_pzc). The Box-Behnken design was used to improve CV adsorption on the composite by testing its primary affecting factors: loading Cel into the composite matrix of Kaol (A: 0-50%), adsorbent dosage (B: 0.02-0.05 g), pH (C: 4-10), temperature (D: 30-60 °C), and duration (E: 5-60 min). The significant interactions with the greatest CV elimination efficiency (99.86%) are as follows: BC (adsorbent dose vs. pH) and BD (adsorbent dose vs. temperature) at optimum parameters (A: 25%, B: 0.05 g, C: 10, D: 45 °C, and E: 17.5 min) for which the CV's best adsorption capacity (294.12 mg/g) was recorded. The Freundlich and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were the best isotherm and kinetic models fitting our results. Furthermore, the study investigated the mechanisms responsible for eliminating CV by utilizing Kaol/Cel-25. It detected multiple types of associations, including electrostatic, n-π, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding interactions, and Yoshida hydrogen bonding. These findings suggest that Kaol/Cel could be a promising starting material for developing a highly efficient adsorbent that can remove cationic dyes from aqueous environments.

Correction to "Adsorption of Methyl Orange from an Aqueous Solution onto a BPPO-Based Anion Exchange Membrane"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03148.].

An eco-friendly approach on green synthesis, bio-engineering applications, and future outlook of ZnO nanomaterial: A critical review

Synthesizing ZnO nanostructures ranging from 1 nm to 4 nm confines the electron cloud and exhibits a quantum effect generally called as quantum confinement effect attracting many researchers in the field of electronics and optics. ZnO nanostructures are used in medical applications to formulate antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and anti-diabetic medications. This work is a comprehensive study of green synthesis of ZnO nanomaterials using different biological sources and highlights different processes able to produce nanostructures including nanowires, nanorods, nanotubes and other nano shapes of ZnO nanostructures. Different properties of ZnO nanostructures and their targeted bioengineering applications are also described. The strategies and challenges of the eco-friendly approach to enhance the application span of ZnO nanomaterials are also summarized, with future prospects for greener design of ZnO nanomaterials are also suggested.

Applying Chitin Enhanced Diafiltration Process (CEFP) in Removing Cobalt from Synthetic Wastewater

This research aims to study the removal of Cobalt (Co) using chitin. The optimum conditions for removing Co were ascertained through batch experiments. This study involves the determination of chitin metal-binding efficiency by using a polymer enhanced diafiltration setup that utilizes a membrane process (ultrafiltration) to keep the Chitin. The effects of several parameters on sorption like pH, the concentrations of chitin, and Co were examined. The best efficiency was reached if the setup was run at pH < 6.3 (i.e., chitin pKa). At acidic conditions and by employing 6 g/L of chitin, Co level (20 mg/L) was decreased at 95%. To further investigate the kinetics of sorption for each gram of chitin, equilibrium experiments were carried out. For 1−100 mM Co, the performed rheological measurements show that chitin was observed to be moderately shear thickening at relatively lower levels (4 and 6 g/L); further, it was moderately shear thinning at slightly more important levels (12 and 20 g/L). Some improvement of the raw polymer will be necessary to enhance sorption to a sustainable limit and make this scheme an economically viable process.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymeric Sorbent for Targeted Dispersive Solid-Phase Microextraction of Fipronil from Milk Samples

Fipronil, a phenyl pyrazole insecticide, is extensively used in agriculture to control insect infestation. It has the potential to assimilate into the food chain, leading to serious health concerns. We report molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based dispersive solid-phase microextraction for the targeted determination of fipronil in milk samples. Designing such a sorbent is of paramount importance for measuring the accurate amount of fipronil for monitoring its permissible limit. Response surface methodology based on a central composite design following a face-centered approach was used to optimize experimental conditions. The maximum binding capacity of 47 mg g^-1 was achieved at optimal parameters of time (18 min), temperature (42 °C), pH (7), and analyte concentration (120 mg L^-1). Under these conditions, a high percentage recovery of 94.6 ± 1.90% (n = 9) and a low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) (5.64 × 10^-6 and 1.71 × 10^-5 μg mL^-1, respectively) were obtained. The MIP was well characterized through a scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. Adsorption kinetics of the MIP followed the pseudo-first-order model (R ² 0.99 and χ² 0.96), suggesting the MIP-analyte interaction to be a physiosorptive process, while adsorption isotherms followed the Freundlich model (R ² 0.99). The real sample analysis through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the selective determination of fipronil from milk samples.

The selectivity of electron acceptors for the removal of caffeine, gliclazide, and prazosin in an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

This study attempts to investigate the relationship between the dominance of reducing conditions and the biotransformation of pharmaceutical compounds, which has been scarcely reported in a continuous anaerobic treatment process. Previous batch experiments have discovered the possible implications of different reducing conditions on the biotransformation process, but have failed to reflect actual removal performance due to substrate limitations and other operational factors. Continuously operating reactors commonly receive wastewater stream containing a wide range of electron acceptors that diversify the growth of microorganisms in anaerobic treatment. The alteration of the dominance of reducing conditions in a continuous anaerobic reactor may result in the improvement of biotransformation performance compared to a single reducing condition in a substrate-limited batch experiment. The removal of psychostimulant caffeine (CAF), anti-diabetic drug gliclazide (GCZ), and anti-hypertensive drug prazosin (PRZ) were examined through the operation of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor under predominant methanogenic condition (Phase I) and simultaneous reducing conditions provided by a nitrate supplement (Phase II). The results revealed high biotransformation performance for all three compounds (73-> 99%) in both Phase I and Phase II experiments and fitted the pseudo-first-order model. The biotransformation rate of CAF and PRZ were relatively lower by 25% and 29%, while the GCZ rate improvement doubled in Phase II compared to Phase I. The outcome from 16s rRNA sequencing suggested that the biotransformation of the compounds may be driven by Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in both phases, and Burkhorderiales and sulfate-reducing bacteria species in Phase II. This study proved preferential of reducing conditions does not negatively affect the biotransformation performance of each pharmaceutical compound in a continuous anaerobic reactor, but they led to varying biotransformation rate, hence shifting the microbial diversity.

Biodegradable Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Anticancer Drug Carrier for the Targeted Delivery of Docetaxel

Molecularly imprinted biodegradable polymers are receiving considerable attention in drug delivery due to their ability of targeted recognition and biocompatibility. This study reports the synthesis of a novel fluorescence-active magnetic molecularly imprinted drug carrier (MIDC) using a glucose-based biodegradable cross-linking agent for the delivery of anticancer drug docetaxel. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The MMIP presented a magnetization value of 0.0059 emu g^-1 and binding capacity of 72 mg g^-1 with docetaxel. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to observe the effectiveness of the MIDC for drug delivery. The cell viability assay suggested that the MMIP did not present toxic effects on healthy cells. The magnetic property of the MMIP allowed quick identification of the drug carrier at the target site by applying the external magnetic field to mice (after 20 min of loading) and taking X-ray images. The novel MMIP-based drug carrier could thus deliver the drug at the target site without affecting the healthy cells.

Adsorption of Methyl Orange from an Aqueous Solution onto a BPPO-Based Anion Exchange Membrane

In this research, the development of a novel brominated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-based homogeneous anion exchange membrane (AEM) via the solution casting method was reported. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm the successful development of the BPPO-based AEM. The prepared AEM showed excellent thermal stability. It exhibited an ion exchange capacity of 2.66 mg/g, a water uptake (W _R) of 68%, and a linear swelling ratio of 31%. Methyl orange (MO), an anionic dye, was used as a model pollutant to evaluate the ion exchange ability of the membrane. The adsorption capacity of MO increased with the increase in contact time, membrane dosage (adsorbent), temperature, and pH while declined with the increase in initial concentration of MO in an aqueous solution and molarity of NaCl. Adsorption isotherm study showed that adsorption of MO was fitted well to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm because the value of the correlation coefficient (R ² = 0.974) was close to unity. Adsorption kinetics study showed that adsorption of MO fitted well to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Adsorption thermodynamics evaluation represented that adsorption of MO was an endothermic (ΔH° = 18.72 kJ/mol) and spontaneous process. The AEM presented a maximum adsorption capacity of 18 mg/g. Moreover, the regeneration of the prepared membrane confirmed its ability to be utilized for three consecutive cycles. The developed BPPO-based AEM was an outstanding candidate for adsorption of MO from an aqueous solution.

Comparative Study of Chemical Coagulation and Electrocoagulation for the Treatment of Real Textile Wastewater: Optimization and Operating Cost Estimation

Pollutants derived from real textile wastewater present a high environmental risk. This work involves the study of the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and turbidity from Tunisian real textile wastewater by two different water treatment technologies: chemical coagulation (CC) and electrocoagulation (EC). A comparative study between these two methods was conducted based on the separation performance and operating cost (OC). The effects of different operational parameters including electrolysis time (t), voltage, and pH for EC and the coagulant concentration, initial pH, and time of slow mixing (t _sm) for CC were studied using response surface methodology. The developed quadratic models for the responses were in good agreement with the experimental data. The experiments proved the efficiency of both chemical and electrochemical techniques for the treatment of textile effluent. Indeed, by using EC, the reduction efficiencies of COD, color, and turbidity were 63.05, 99.07, and 96.31%, respectively, under optimal conditions (pH 9, t = 36.26 min, and voltage 4 V). For CC treatment, the achieved removal efficiencies of COD, color, and turbidity were 54.02, 96.21, and 93.7%, respectively, at pH 8.57, a coagulant concentration of 204.75 mg/L, and a t _sm of 28.41 min as optimal operating conditions. The OC obtained for EC and CC was about 0.47 and 0.2 USD/m³, respectively. Even if the OC of the EC process was higher as compared to the CC process, the treated water obtained by EC meets the Tunisian Standards (NT 106.03 and NT 09-14) for textile wastewater discharge into the environment and demonstrates a high potential for its reuse in various industrial activities. EC technology can be integrated into a wastewater management system that ensures a zero liquid discharge of wastewater into the environment.

Determination of Blood Calcium and Lead Concentrations in Osteoporotic and Osteopenic Patients in Pakistan

Osteoporosis is the leading cause of deformity and bones fracture all over the world and has some relationship with the blood concentrations of calcium and lead. Therefore, in the current study, the blood samples of 58 control and 56 clinically diagnosed osteoporotic and osteopenic patients were taken from different hospitals in Pakistan and analyzed for calcium and lead concentrations using atomic absorption spectrometry. In female control samples, the mean calcium value was found to be 98.53 ± 4.81 μg/mL, and in male control samples, the mean blood calcium level was found to be 121.33 ± 7.27 μg/mL. In female control samples, the mean lead value was found to be 0.133 ± 0.005 μg/mL, and in male control samples, the mean lead level was found to be 0.183 ± 0.008 μg/mL. All the male and female control samples showed a mean value of calcium of 115.63 ± 5.2 μg/mL and a mean value of lead of 0.153 ± 0.007 μg/mL. In osteoporotic female patients, the decline in the mean calcium value was found to be 34.93 ± 1.9 μg/mL, and in male patients, the decrease in the mean calcium level was found to be 47.73 ± 2.5 μg/mL. The increase in the mean value of lead in osteoporotic females was 4.13 ± 0.22 μg/mL, whereas in male patients, the increase in the mean lead value was 0.95 ± 0.07 μg/mL. All the male and female patients showed a decrease in the mean value of calcium of 41.43 ± 2.2 μg/mL and an increase in the mean value of Pb of 3.63 ± 0.16 μg/mL.

Energizing periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) with bismuth and cerium for photo-degrading methylene blue and methyl orange in water

This work reported an efficient catalyst to reduce the organic pollutants by using an energetic periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) supported with bismuth (Bi-PMOS) and cerium (Ce-PMOS). PMOS support was designed through co-condensation of sodium silicate and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane on polysorbate templates. The resultant PMOSs were fabricated with bismuth and cerium oxides to formulate Bi-PMOS and Ce-PMOS, respectively. These materials showed photo-degradations of methylene blue (MB, 74.7% and 41.1% with Bi-PMOS and Ce-PMOS, respectively) and methyl orange (MO, 53.2% and 39.4% with Bi-PMOS and Ce-PMOS, respectively). Such efficient photo-degradations were attributed to the precise doping of metallic nodes of Bi₂ O₃ and CeO₂ on the porous structure of PMOS with high surface area. The results also showed that Bi and Ce were more effective in PMOS support for photo-degradation of dyes as the support provides more lifetime to photo-generated electron-hole pairs than other materials. Moreover, active reusability and high degradation efficiencies of Bi-PMOS and Ce-PMOS proved them better analytical tools to reduce organic pollutants under visible lights. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The oxides of bismuth and cerium have impressive photocatalytic characteristics. New material energizing mesoporous organosilica with bismuth and cerium for photo-degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange in water. The use of an efficient catalyst to reduce the organic pollutants by using an energetic periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMOS) supported with bismuth (Bi-PMOS) and cerium (Ce-PMOS).

Effect of Different Quaternary Ammonium Groups on the Hydroxide Conductivity and Stability of Anion Exchange Membranes

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are encouraging electrochemical structures for the competent and complaisant conversion of energy. Herein, the development of brominated poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with different quaternary ammonium groups for AEMFCs was reported. The successful preparation of AEMs was proved by utilizing proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. They were explored in terms of water uptake (W _R), ion exchange capacity (IEC), hydration number (λ), linear swelling ratio (LSR), morphology, tensile strength (TS), and elongation at break (E _b). The alkaline stability of the prepared AEMs was assessed and compared with each other. The experimental outcomes demonstrated that the N-methylpyrrolidinium-based membrane (MPyPPO) exhibited higher alkaline stability, whereas the N-methylimidazolium-based membrane (MImPPO) showed the lowest alkaline stability among the prepared AEMs. Similarly, the hydroxide conductivity of the prepared AEMs was measured and compared with each other. The pyrrolidinium-based membrane (MPyPPO) exhibited higher hydroxide conductivity among the prepared AEMs.

Current Application of Chemometrics Analysis in Authentication of Natural Products: A Review

BACKGROUND

The efficiency of herbal medicinal products depends on the quantity of active ingredients in them, which can differ considerably in contents. Hence, a very critical concern is the quality control of herbal medicines.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a succinct review of recent chemometrics applications in solving the uncertainty of the authentication of herbal medicine over the last two decades.

METHODOLOGY

Studies involving chemometrics applications in conjunction with various analytical methods have been categorized according to the type of research used in the quality evaluation of different samples, including chromatographic (HPLC, GC-MS) and spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis, FTIR, NMR, and MS).

RESULTS

This review consists of over 90 studies illustrating the relevance of chemometrics methods in the discrimination based on the key bioactive components and phytochemical diversity of several herbs from closely related species. Besides, the distinction between varieties and hybrids was accomplished through quantitative analysis techniques, in addition to the prediction of the active components.

CONCLUSION

Methods of chemometrics have provided an important and potent tool for the quality control and authentication of various herbs.

ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy, HPLC Chromatography, and Multivariate Analysis for Controlling Bee Pollen Quality in Some Algerian Regions

Bee pollen collected by honeybees (Apis mellifera) is one of the bee products, and it is as valuable as honey, propolis, royal jelly, or beebread. Its quality varies according to its geographic location or plant sources. This study aimed to apply rapid, simple, and accurate analytical methods such as attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) along with chemometrics analysis to construct a model aimed at discriminating between different pollen samples. In total, 33 samples were collected and analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and partial least squares regression (PLS) to assess the differences and similarities between them. The PCA score plot based on both HPLC and ATR-FTIR revealed the same discriminatory pattern, and the samples were divided into four major classes depending on their total content of polyphenols. The results revealed that spectral data obtained from ATR-FTIR acquired in the region (4000-500 cm^-1) were further subjected to a standard normal variable (SNV) method that removes scattering effects from spectra. However, PCA, HCA, and PLS showed that the best PLS model was obtained with a regression coefficient (R ²) of 0.9001, root-mean-square estimation error (RMSEE) of 0.0304, and root-mean-squared error cross-validation (RMSEcv) of 0.036. Discrimination between the three species has also been possible by combining the pre-processed ATR-FTIR spectra with PCA and PLS. Additionally, the HPLC chromatograms after pre-treatment (SNV) were subjected to unsupervised analysis (PCA-HCA) and supervised analysis (PLS). The PLS model confers good results by factors (R ² = 0.98, RMSEE = 8.22, and RMSEcv = 27.86). Prospects for devising bee pollen quality assessment methods include utilizing ATR-FTIR and HPLC in combination with multivariate methods for rapid authentication of the geographic location or plant sources of bee pollen.

Higher Acid Recovery Efficiency of Novel Functionalized Inorganic/Organic Composite Anion Exchange Membranes from Acidic Wastewater

In this work, the synthesis of a series of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite anion exchange membranes (AEMs) was carried out by employing the varying amount of inorganic filler consist of N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (TMSP-TMA⁺Cl^-) into the quaternized poly (2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene oxide) (QPPO) matrix for acid recovery via diffusion dialysis (DD) process. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy clearly demonstrated the fabrication of the functionalized inorganic/organic composite AEMs and the subsequent membrane characteristic measurements such as ion exchange capacity (IEC), linear swelling ratio (LSR), and water uptake (W_R) gave us the optimum loading condition of the filler without undesirable filler particle aggregation. These composite AEMs exhibited IEC of 2.18 to 2.29 meq/g, LSR of 13.33 to 18.52%, and W_R of 46.11 to 81.66% with sufficient thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. The diffusion dialysis (DD) test for acid recovery from artificial acid wastewater of HCl/FeCl₂ showed high acid DD coefficient (U_H⁺) (0.022 to 0.025 m/h) and high separation factor (S) (139-260) compared with the commercial membrane. Furthermore, the developed AEMs was acceptably stable (weight loss < 20%) in the acid wastewater at 60 °C as an accelerated severe condition for 2 weeks. These results clearly indicated that the developed AEMs have sufficient potential for acid recovery application by DD process.

Enhancing the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Juniper Berries Using the Box-Behnken Design

Juniper berry is an important medicinal plant used in pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries thanks to its strong antioxidant potential, which is attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds. In this study, four different solvents, namely, aqueous acetone, aqueous ethanol, aqueous NaOH, and water, were used in the extraction process with a view to optimize and determine the polyphenolic contents in the juniper berry using ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. Many experiments were performed at different solvent concentrations, time, temperature, and liquid-solid ratio. The models to evaluate the effects and the optimum of these variables on the polyphenols extraction using the response surface methodology (RSM) were developed. The predicted values of the polyphenol content of juniper berry were thus highly correlated with costly measured values (SECV = 0.14 and R ² = 0.97), and the optimal conditions of extraction were determined for the different solvents. Following the numerical optimization, the maximum predicted polyphenol contents obtained under the optimum extraction conditions are as follows: 17.57% for 58 °C extraction temperature, 78.5 min extraction time, 60% acetone concentration, and 29.8 liquid-solid ratio for the aqueous ethanol extraction; 20.68% for 71.46 °C extraction temperature, 79.2 min extraction time, 21.9% ethanol concentration, and 26.4:1 liquid-solid ratio for the aqueous acetone extraction; 34.51% for 96.4 °C extraction temperature, 37.7 min extraction time, 1.48% NaOH concentration, and 15.2:1 liquid-solid ratio for the aqueous NaOH extraction; and 9.8% was obtained under the optimum extraction conditions of 69 °C extraction temperature, 126 min extraction time, and 23:1 liquid-solid ratio for the water extraction. The GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition of juniper Berry revealed 60 identified components that represent 97.43% of the sample. The predominant fraction was monoterpene representing 80.87% especially for α-pinene (39.12%), β-pinene (12. 68%), and myrcene (12.92%). In the other fraction of sesquiterpene representing 16.54%, the predominant components were β-caryophyllene (4.41%) and germacrene D (4.23%).