Removal of Direct N Blue-106 from artificial textile dye effluent using activated carbon from orange peel: adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies

The purpose of this study is to suggest an efficient process, which does not require a huge investment for the removal of direct dye from wastewater. Activated carbon developed from agricultural waste material was characterized and utilized for the removal of Direct Navy Blue 106 (DNB-106) from wastewater. Systematic studies on DNB-106 adsorption equilibrium and kinetics by low-cost activated carbons were carried out. Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial concentrations of DNB-106 (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mg l(-1)), contact time (5-180 min), pH (2.0, 3.0, 4.7, 6.3, 7.2, 8.0, 10.3 and 12.7) and sorbent doses (2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 g l(-1)). Both Langmuir and Freundlich models fitted the adsorption data quite reasonably (R(2)>97). The maximum adsorption capacity was 107.53 mg g(-1) for 150 mg l(-1) of DNB-106 concentration and 2 g l(-1) carbon concentration. Various mechanisms were established for DNB-106 adsorption on developed adsorbents. The kinetic studies were conducted to delineate the effect of initial dye concentration, contact time and solid to liquid concentration. The developed carbon might be successfully used for the removal of DNB-106 from liquid industrial wastes.

Removal of toxic chromium from wastewater using green alga Ulva lactuca and its activated carbon

Biosorption of heavy metals can be an effective process for the removal of toxic chromium ions from wastewater. In this study, the batch removal of toxic hexavalent chromium ions from aqueous solution, saline water and wastewater using marine dried green alga Ulva lactuca was investigated. Activated carbon prepared from U. lactuca by acid decomposition was also used for the removal of chromium from aqueous solution, saline water and wastewater. The chromium uptake was dependent on the initial pH and the initial chromium concentration, with pH approximately 1.0, being the optimum pH value. Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models were fitted well the equilibrium data for both sorbents. The maximum efficiencies of chromium removal were 92 and 98% for U. lactuca and its activated carbon, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 10.61 and 112.36 mg g(-1) for dried green alga and activated carbon developed from it, respectively. The adsorption capacities of U. lactuca and its activated carbon were independent on the type of solution containing toxic chromium and the efficiency of removal was not affected by the replacing of aqueous solution by saline water or wastewater containing the same chromium concentration. Two hours were necessary to reach the sorption equilibrium. The chromium uptake by U. lactuca and its activated carbon form were best described by pseudo second-order rate model. This study verifies the possibility of using inactivated marine green alga U. lactuca and its activated carbon as valuable material for the removal of chromium from aqueous solutions, saline water or wastewater.

Removal of direct blue-86 from aqueous solution by new activated carbon developed from orange peel

The use of low-cost, easy obtained, high efficiency and eco-friendly adsorbents has been investigated as an ideal alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. This study investigates the potential use of activated carbon prepared from orange peel for the removal of direct blue-86 (DB-86) (Direct Fast Turquoise Blue GL) dye from simulated wastewater. The effects of different system variables, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, pH and contact time were studied. The results showed that as the amount of the adsorbent increased, the percentage of dye removal increased accordingly. Optimum pH value for dye adsorption was determined as approximately 2.0. Maximum dye was sequestered within 30min after the beginning for every experiment. The adsorption of direct blue-86 followed a pseudo-second-order rate equation and fit well Langmuir, Tempkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) equations better than Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson equations. The maximum removal of direct blue-86 was obtained at pH 2 as 92% for adsorbent dose of 6gL(-1) and 100mgL(-1) initial dye concentration at room temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir equation was 33.78mgg(-1). Furthermore, adsorption kinetics of DB-86 was studied and the rate of adsorption was found to conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics with a good correlation (R2>0.99) with intraparticle diffusion as one of the rate determining steps. Activated carbon developed from orange peel can be attractive options for dye removal from diluted industrial effluents since test reaction made on simulated dyeing wastewater show better removal percentage of DB-86.

Chemical composition of some seaweed from Mediterranean Sea coast, Egypt

This study pointed to the assessment of the chemical composition (F, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Cd, and carbohydrate) of different marine seaweeds (red, green, and brown) from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. The results showed that green seaweeds supplied better calcium sources than the red and brown ones. Also, red and brown seaweeds showed higher averages of Na and K than that in green species and these seaweeds could play an important role in the electrolyte balance in humans. On the other hand, green seaweeds gave the highest average carbohydrate concentration; thus, these green species could be used as a source of polysaccharides. Ion quotient values for almost seaweed species were between 1.4 and 4.0, so they can reduce hypertension, preeclampsia, and heart disease in human beings. Interestingly, the calculated hazard quotient of elements was below 1. Accordingly, these seaweed species were of high quality and safety and might be used in the field of nutrition.

Treatment of wastewater containing toxic chromium using new activated carbon developed from date palm seed

The use of a new activated carbon developed from date palm seed wastes, generated in the jam industry, for removing toxic chromium from aqueous solution has been investigated. The activated carbon has been achieved from date palm seed by dehydrating methods using concentrated sulfuric acid. The batch experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption capacity of the biomass. The effect of initial metal concentration (25-125mgl(-1)), pH, contact time, and concentration of date palm seed carbon have been studied at room temperature. A strong dependence of the adsorption capacity on pH was observed, the capacity increase as pH value decrease and the optimum pH value is pH 1.0. Kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were studied at different sorbent doses. The adsorption process was fast and the equilibrium was reached within 180min. The maximum removal was 100% for 75mgl(-1) of Cr(+ concentration on 4gl(-1) carbon concentration and the maximum adsorption capacity was 120.48mgg(-1). The kinetic data were analyzed using various kinetic models - pseudo-first order equation, pseudo-second order equation, Elovich equation and intraparticle diffusion equation - and the equilibrium data were tested using several isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich, Koble-Corrigan, Redlich-Peterson, Tempkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Generalized isotherm equations. The Elovich equation and pseudo-second order equation provide the greatest accuracy for the kinetic data and Koble-Corrigan and Langmuir models the closest fit for the equilibrium data. Activation energy of sorption has also been evaluated as 0.115 and 0.229kJmol(-1).

The distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments along the Egyptian Mediterranean coast

Coastal marine sediment samples were collected from 31 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. All sediment samples were analyzed to determine aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as total organic carbon (TOC) contents and grain size analysis. Total concentrations of 16 EPA-PAHs in the sediments were varied from 88 to 6338 ng g(-1) with an average value of 154 ng g(-1) (dry weight). However, the concentrations of total aliphatic were varied from 1.3 to 69.9 ng g(-1) with an average value of 15.6 ng g(-1) (dry weight). The highest contents of PAHs were found in the Eastern harbor (6338 ng g(-1)), Manzala (5206 ng g(-1)) and El-Jamil East (4895 ng g(-1)) locations. Good correlations observed between a certain numbers of PAH concentrations allowed to identify its origin. The average total organic carbon (TOC) percent was varied from 0.91 to 4.54%. Higher concentration of total pyrolytic hydrocarbons ( summation operatorCOMB) than total fossil hydrocarbons ( summation operatorPHE) declared that atmospheric fall-out is the significant source of PAHs to marine sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The selected marked compounds, a principal component analysis (PCA) and special PAHs compound ratios (phenanthrene/anthracene vs fluoranthene/pyrene; summation operatorCOMB/ summation operatorEPA-PAHs) suggest the pyrogenic origins, especially traffic exhausts, are the dominant sources of PAHs in most locations. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in the harbors due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships staying alongside the quays.

The distribution, contamination and risk assessment of heavy metals in sediment and shellfish from the Red Sea coast, Egypt

Zn, Cu, Ni, V, Al, Pb, Cd, Hg, lipid and water contents were determined in the soft tissues of different shellfish species collected along the Red Sea shoreline. Metal contents showed a descending order of Zn > Cu > Ni > Al > V > Pb > Cd > Hg. The leachable concentrations found in the sediments gathered from the studied locations gave another descending order: Al > Zn > Ni > Pb > V > Cu > Cd. The determined leachable heavy metal contents in the sediment did not exceed the NOAA and CCME (Anonymous 1999) sediment quality guidelines. Accordingly, the sediments along the Egyptian Red Sea area did not pose any adverse impacts on the biological life. According to the hazard quotient (HQ) calculations for heavy metal contents in the soft tissue of shellfish, mercury did not pose any risk on human health; whereas, the other determined heavy metals gave HQ values of 1 < HQ < 10 and showed a possibility of risk on the long term. Cu is above the desirable levels in mussels. The RQ calculations of toddlers and adults reflected that Cu was the only heavy metal that had an adverse effect on toddlers' health. Based on the human organizations (EPA, BOE, MAFF, and NHMRC) that proposed safety concentrations of heavy metals, the studied shellfish were somewhat safe for human consumption.

Polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides in mussels from the Egyptian Red Sea coast

The residues of 17 organochlorine pollutants were analyzed in bivalve Brachiodontes sp. collected from 11 different locations in April 2000 along the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The pollutants studied were 10 individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, alpha,alpha,alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), cyclodienes (heptachlor, heptachlorepoxide, aldrin, dieldrin) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) (p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD and p,p'-DDT). The concentration of total DDTs ranged between 125 and 772 ng/g of wet weight whereas the concentration of the PCBs, HCHs and cyclodienes ranged from 6.7 to 66.4 ng/g; 16.2 to 183.4 ng/g and 8.8 to 221.6 ng/g of wet weight, respectively. The levels are low to moderate in relation to the published data from other coastal areas. The present results indicate low to moderate PCBs and pesticides contamination in the investigated mussels except DDTs.

Determination of hydrocarbons in mussels from the Egyptian Red Sea coast

Mussels (Brachidontes Sp.) collected in April 2000 from the Red Sea coastal of Egypt in order to determine the contamination by hydrocarbons. The study included 11 sampling stations covering about 450 Km of the Egyptian Red Sea coast for the first time. Total concentrations of 20 aliphatics (average 0.105 ng g(-1) of wet weight) and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (average 5452 ng g(-1) of wet weight) were generally lower in comparison with those reported for some of the published surveillance and monitoring studies of coastal areas from various regions. These results suggest that the coastal area in the Red Sea of Egypt might be considered as a relatively unpolluted.

Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure on Sperm DNA in Idiopathic Male Infertility

BACKGROUND

Biological mechanisms contribute to the relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and infertility in males by altering semen quality.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of PAHs on male infertility using the sperm chromatin dispersion test (Halo sperm assay).

METHODS

Sixty-six (66) infertile males under 45 years of age were examined for the determination of urinary metabolite and oxidative stress by measuring lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity of glutathione and glutathione-s-transferase, as well as hormonal activity of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone and prolactin and semen quality.

RESULTS

There was an increased level of urinary metabolite of 1-hydroxy pyrene, 1-hydroxy naphthalene and 2-hydroxy naphthalene in the urine of the infertile group. In addition, elevated concentrations of malondialdehyde coincided with a decreased level of antioxidants, leading to oxidative stress in the infertile group. Semen samples showed 30% sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

The data provide strong evidence of a statistical threshold for semen samples containing 30% sperm DNA fragmentation resulting in a reduced level of pregnancy success.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT

Obtained.

ETHICS APPROVAL

Study approval was given by the ethics committee of Alexandria University (United States Department of Health and Human Services, institutional review board registration (IRB), IORG0008812 Medical Research Institute, expires 4/8/2019, OMB No: 0990-0279).

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Impacts of PAH accumulation on reproductive hormones, indices of oxidative stress and BPDE-albumin adduct in women with recurrent pregnancy loss

Chronic exposure to Poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Disruption of hormonal and redox balance by toxic PAH metabolites may interfere with successful pregnancy leading to miscarriage. The association of exposure to PAH contaminated mussel via the dietary route with perturbations in reproductive hormones, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and PAH metabolites were assessed in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Furthermore, an analysis of the concentration of PAHs in environmentally relevant bivalve animals was performed to preliminary get insights into the levels of these pollutants in the environment. Seventy-six women (20-35 years) were categorized into 18 fertile women without RPL (control), and Groups I, II, and III comprising 24, 18, and 16 women with RPL (2, 3, and > 3 abortions respectively) were studied. Whole blood samples were collected for the estimation of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), progesterone (P4), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), benzo[a]pyren-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-albumin adduct (BPDE-albumin) and urine for α-naphthol and β-naphthol. Two species of mussel Donax trunculus and Andar aduloii samples were collected for the estimation of 16 priority PAHs. The concentration of PAHs exceeding the maximum limits was observed in the two species of mussels studied. Higher levels of BPDE-albumin, MDA, GST, α and β-naphthol and lower GSH, catalase, FSH, and P4 were observed in women with RPL (Groups I-III) compared to controls (p =  < 0.001). Negative associations were observed between BPDE-albumin and catalase (r = - 0.276, p = 0.036), and GSH (r = - 0.331, p = - 0.011) only in women with RPL. Collectively, our findings indicate a possible association of chronic PAH accumulation with recurrent pregnancy loss in women.

Graphical abstract

High PAH exposure in pregnant women is associated with 10-epoxide-albumin adduct formation and high MDA levels in their sera. On the other hand, PAH exposure in those women led to a decrease in their GSH, catalase, P4, and FSH sera levels. These findings indicate that PAH exposure can exert different physiological effects in pregnant women leading to a high level of abortion in those women.

Metallothionein and Glutathione Content as Biomarkers of Metal Pollution in Mussels and Local Fishermen in Abu Qir Bay, Egypt

BACKGROUND

When heavy metals accumulate in air, soil, and water, the risk of human exposure increases among industrial workers, as well as in people living near polluted areas. Heavy metals adversely affect a variety of bodily systems such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems. In addition, long-term exposure and accumulation of heavy metals in the body may disturb oxidative stress genes and thus increase the susceptibility to various diseases.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to estimate the metallothionein concentration in both mussel samples from Abu Qir Bay, Egypt and the blood of local fishermen as a biomarker of exposure to metal pollution.

METHODS

Levels of metallothionein and heavy metals were measured in mussels. Blood levels of metallothionein and heavy metals of local fishermen were measured and compared with a control group. The effect of heavy metal exposure on oxidative stress status was investigated through the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and glutathione content.

RESULTS

The results of this study showed high concentrations of metallothionein in mussels and in fishermen's blood, accompanied by high concentrations of metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn). At the same time, a significant decrease in glutathione content and catalase enzyme activity was associated with a significant increase in the malondialdehyde concentrations in sera of fishermen.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study found that the El Maadiya region is polluted with heavy metals, inducing oxidative stress in fishermen in the vicinity. These results reveal the necessity of further environmental monitoring in the study area in order to evaluate other types of pollutants and their effects on human health.

Levels, distribution, and risk assessment of organochlorines in surficial sediments of the Red Sea coast, Egypt

The analyses of environmentally persistent pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites in surficial sediment samples collected from 17 locations along with the coast of the Red Sea in Egypt were carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Several potential organic contaminants from agricultural (e.g., DDT and its breakdown products, lindane, endrin, dieldrin, and endosulfan) and industrial (PCBs) sources were measured. The levels of 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ten PCB congeners in sediment collected from 17 stations along ~1,200 km were investigated. Concentrations of PCBs, HCHs, DDTs, and cyclodienes ranged from 0.40 to 6.17, 0.01 to 0.09, n.d. to 0.46, and 0.08 to 0.90 ppb dry weight. Two statistical programs were applied on the data (principal component analysis, PCA, and cluster analysis, CA), and it was concluded that it is impossible to predict the distribution patterns of the OCPs in a contaminated area. Risk assessment of the organochlorines contaminated in the sediments of the studied area was investigated.

Relationship between Metal Pollution and Gene Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor II

BACKGROUND

Metals pollution plays an important role in the regulation of gene expression through interference with signal transduction pathways which are important for cell bioactivity.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was conducted to estimate metallothionein levels in mussels as a biomarker of exposure to heavy metals in order to monitor the pollution of Abu Qir Bay, Egypt (El-Maadiya region) and to evaluate the impact of heavy metals on human health by examining insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-2) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

METHODS

One hundred and forty mussel samples (Andara dulofii) were collected from Abu-Qir Bay, stored in bags, preserved in an ice box, and then transported to the laboratory to acclimatize at 20°C for three days in ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA)-free synthetic sea water to determine the presence of metallothionein and five other metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)).

RESULTS

Results showed that mussels collected from the study area contained a measurable amount of metallothionein. In addition, results revealed an increased level of malondialdehyde coinciding with a decreased level of antioxidants, leading to oxidative stress in local fishermen.

CONCLUSIONS

The present data demonstrated a significant increase in the gene expression of IGF-2 and a positive correlation between IGF-2 gene expression and the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase in male subjects.

PARTICIPANT CONSENT

Obtained.

ETHICS APPROVAL

Written consent was provided by the study participants and study approval was given by the ethics committee of Alexandria University (US Department of Health and Human Services, Registration of an Institutional Review Board, IORG0008812 Medical Research Institute, Expires 4/8/2019, OMB No:0990-0279).

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.