Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Isoquercetin from Ephedra alata (Decne): Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and In Vitro Bioactivities

Isoquercetin (ISQ) is reported to be a powerful antioxidant with extremely high bioavailability and structural stability compared to aglycone quercetin. Despite this, it is not well studied due to the limited methods for its extraction. With the growing interest in the research and analysis of ISQ-rich herbs, there is a need to optimize an efficient and rapid method for their extraction. In the present study, the ultrasound-assisted extraction of ISQ from Ephedra alata Decne was optimized by a response surface methodology (RSM) using high-performance liquid chromatography as a separation method. The best possible ranges for extraction time (10–30 min), temperature (50–70 °C), ultrasonic power (60–90 W), solvent-to-solid ratio (50–70 mL/g), and ethanol concentration (50–70%) were determined using a single factor analysis. Subsequently, an optimization of the extraction conditions was performed with RSM using the Box–Behnken design. An ultrasonication time of 10 min, a temperature of 60 °C, a power of 75 W, a solvent-to-solid ratio of 60 mL/g, and an ethanol concentration of 70% were determined to be the optimal conditions for the highest recovery of isoquercetin (1033.96 ± 3.28 µg/g). Furthermore, E. alata powder morphology (using a scanning electron microscope), antioxidant activities, and the inhibition potential of key enzymes involved in skin aging (elastase and collagenase), hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase), diabetes (α-amylase), inflammation (hyaluronidase), and neurodegenerative disorders (cholinesterase) were determined and compared with those using the Soxhlet method. This study established a highly efficient method for ISQ extraction and suggested several potential applications of ISQ in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Combining sequential extraction and 3D fluorescence to investigate the behavior of antibiotic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during solar drying of sewage sludge

Solar drying and liming are commonly used for sludge treatment, but little is known about their efficiency on antibiotics and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal. This study aimed to investigate the removal of antibiotics and PAHs during solar drying of Limed Sludge (LS) and Non-Limed Sludge (NLS). Thus, organic matter fractionation and 3D fluorescence were used to assess the accessibility and the complexity of organic matter. 2 experiments have been conducted using LS and NLS for 45 days of drying in a pilot scale tunnel. Physicochemical results indicated significant decrease of water content (90%) for both sludge samples within 15 days of drying. For both treatments, the removal of total organic carbon and total nitrogen was low and similar for both treatments. Through this study, it has been confirmed that liming and drying contributed to a strong modification of the organic matter quality with an increase of its accessibility. On the other hand, drying alone increased the less accessible compartments, while the presence of lime affected the interconnexion between the organic matter pools. 3D fluorescence confirmed the obtained results and indicated that LS leads to obtaining more simple molecules in the most accessible compartments, while NLS leads to obtaining more complex molecules in the less accessible compartments. In addition, solar radiations and leaching may contribute to the significant removal (p < 0.01) of roxithromycin, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and benzo(g, h, i) perylene in the presence of lime. Furthermore, the evolution of organic matter pools in terms of accessibility and complexity may drive the bioavailability of these pollutants, leading to their significant removal.

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms: A Comprehensive Review of Its Chemical Composition, Traditional Use, and Value-Added Products

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth, is one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plants of the Pontederiaceae family occurring in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although, E. crassipes causes significant ecological and socioeconomic issues such as a high loss in water resources, it has multipurpose applications since it is famous for many industrial applications such as bioenergy, biofertilizer production, wastewater treatment (absorption of heavy metals), and animal feed. Furthermore, E. crassipes is rich in diverse bioactive secondary metabolites including sterols, alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins. These secondary metabolites are well known for a wide array of therapeutic properties. The findings of this review suggest that extracts and some isolated compounds from E. crassipes possess some pharmacological activities including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, skin whitening, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities, among other biological activities such as allelopathic, larvicidal, and insecticidal activities. The present review comprehensively summarizes the chemical composition of E. crassipes, reported to date, along with its traditional uses and pharmacological and biological activities.

Identifying Advanced Biotechnologies to Generate Biofertilizers and Biofuels From the World's Worst Aquatic Weed

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes L.) was introduced as an invasive plant in freshwater bodies more particularly in Asia and Africa. This invasive plant grows rapidly and then occupies a huge layer of freshwater bodies. Hence, challenges are facing many countries for implementing suitable approaches for the valorization of the world's worst aquatic weed, and water hyacinth (WH). A critical and up-to-date review article has been conducted for more than 1 year, based on more than 100 scientific journal articles, case studies, and other scientific reports. Worldwide distribution of WH and the associated social, economic, and environmental impacts were described. In addition, an extensive evaluation of the most widely used and innovative valorization biotechnologies, leading to the production of biofertilizer and bioenergy from WH, and was dressed. Furthermore, an integrated search was used in order to examine the related advantages and drawbacks of each bioprocess, and future perspectives stated. Aerobic and anaerobic processes have their specific basic parameters, ensuring their standard performances. Composting was mostly used even at a large scale, for producing biofertilizers from WH. Nevertheless, this review explored some critical points to better optimize the conditions (presence of pollutants, inoculation, and duration) of composting. WH has a high potential for biofuel production, especially by implementing several pretreatment approaches. This review highlighted the combined pretreatment (physical-chemical-biological) as a promising approach to increase biofuel production. WH valorization must be in large quantities to tackle its fast proliferation and to ensure the generation of bio-based products with significant revenue. So, a road map for future researches and applications based on an advanced statistical study was conducted. Several recommendations were explored in terms of the choice of co-substrates, initial basic parameters, and pretreatment conditions and all crucial conditions for the production of biofuels from WH. These recommendations will be of a great interest to generate biofertilizers and bioenergy from WH, especially within the framework of a circular economy.

Heavy metal accumulation and genotoxic effect of long-term wastewater irrigated peri-urban agricultural soils in semiarid climate

Water scarcity is becoming an alarming issue in the Mediterranean countries. Therefore, using the treated wastewater in the irrigation is considered as a valuable option. However, uncontrolled and long-term irrigation by wastewater leads to human health and environmental damages, mainly related to some specific pollutants. The assessment of the availability and toxicity of the heavy metals after long term irrigation, under semi-arid climate, is not yet well documented. In this study, physicochemical properties, genotoxicity (Vicia faba micronucleus test), total and available (CaCl₂-extractable) concentrations of Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, Co and Cd in eight soils of peri-urban farms irrigated with wastewater were examined to evaluate their accumulation. The results indicated that long-term irrigation with wastewater induced significant increase of electrical conductivity, organic matter, calcium carbonate equivalent and nutrient availability. Total and available concentration of heavy metals were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in irrigated soils by wastewater. The total concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd and Co in irrigated soils by wastewater at 0-40 cm depth were 85.69, 43.94, 34.86, 14.62, 9.94 and 7.17 mg kg^-1, respectively. Furthermore, the increase of the available metal fraction in irrigated soils by wastewater at 0-40 cm depth followed the following order: Co (1270.1%) > Cd (914.5%) > Cu (881.5%) > Cr (471.2%) > Pb (230.8%) > Zn (223.8%). The micronucleus assay indicated significant increase of micronucleus frequencies (41.25‰, 35.48‰, 21.66‰, 16.23‰ and 13.62‰ respectively for P1, P2, P3, P4 and P7) which were higher than the negative control (0‰) and the irrigated soil by fresh water (3.29‰). The micronucleus induction was significantly correlated with the high available fraction of Cd, Co and Zn at P1, P2 and P7. The genotoxicity can be a powerful test to assess the ecological effects associated with the interactions of heavy metals with other pollutants.

Helminth eggs inactivation efficiency by sludge co-composting under arid climates

Primary sludge (PS) from the wastewater treatment plants is constituted of organic matter and other nutrients that could be reused as soil fertilizers. However, primary sludge amendment is hampered due to the presence of pathogens that could be responsible for several infections in various ways depending on the prevalence of the human sources. This study investigates helminth eggs (HE) removal and inactivation efficiency by co-composting. So, PS was mixed with date palm waste as a bulking material at a 1:1 volume ratio. The C/N ratio decreased from 25:1 to 12:1 and temperatures above 50ºC were observed since 33 days. The initial concentration of HE eggs in the PS is 135.9 per 10 g DR. Microscopic examination of the PS, according to the Bailenger method, showed the presence of nematodes and Cestodes represented by: Ascaris lombricoïde, Ancylostomes duodenale, Trichuris trichiura, Capilaria spp, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia saginata, and Ascaris lombricoïde. After 60 days of co-composting, the charge of parasites was reduced to 18 eggs per 10 g per DR. The viability of ascaris eggs was examined using a light microscope and the percentage of the embryonated eggs was determined. No viable eggs were observed in the final compost. The result corroborates the WHO guidelines for the application of the composted sewage sludge safely for agriculture purposes.

Effectiveness of helminth egg reduction by solar drying and liming of sewage sludge

The present study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of solar drying process in terms of helminth egg reduction in sewage sludge (SS) generated from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Marrakesh city (Morocco). It is also engaged to highlight a synergic effect of liming (1% CaO) and solar drying on helminth egg reduction. The solar drying process was conducted for 45 days, in summer under a semi-arid climate in a pilot scale polycarbonate-based tunnel (2 m³). Before undergoing solar drying process, data showed an important load of helminth eggs including Ascaris sp., Schistosoma spp., Capillaria spp., Trichuris spp., Ankylostome spp., Toxocara spp., and Taenia spp. in limed sludge (LS) and non-limed sludge (NLS) (15.2 and 17.9 eggs/g, respectively). Ascaris eggs were the most abundant (11.2 and 13.5 eggs/g in LS and NLS, respectively). By the end of the solar drying process, a considerable removal of the total helminth eggs was recorded in LS and NLS (92.8% and 91.6%, respectively). A complete removal of Schistosoma spp., Capillaria spp., Trichuris spp., Toxocara spp. and Taenia spp. was noted in LS and NLS. In the case of Ankylostome spp., data showed a total removal in LS and 81% in NLS; however, the final load is in agreement with the standards (0.4 egg/g). As for Ascaris spp., neither liming nor solar drying process allowed a complete removal (91% and 90% in NLS and LS, respectively) and the final load (1.1 egg/g) does not fulfill the WHO requirements for an agricultural use. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated a negative correlation between dry matter (DM) content (hence temperature) and helminth egg concentration. No significant synergic effect of liming and solar drying process was showed by statistical analysis. This is substantiating that temperature is the key parameter involved in helminth egg removal while undergoing solar drying of SS.

Bioremediation of landfill leachate by Aspergillus flavus in submerged culture: Evaluation of the process efficiency by physicochemical methods and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy

The present study investigates the ability of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) for organic and nitrogen matter removal from landfill leachate. Experiments were carried out with different types of leachate, (Young (YL), Intermediate (IL) and Old (OL)) used at different concentrations of the leachate up to 100%. The organic fraction of landfill leachate was measured by biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) then it was qualitatively assessed using three dimensional excitation emission matrix (3D-EEM). The nitrogen fraction was measured by ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃^-). The experiments revealed that, BOD₅, COD and NH₄⁺ removal rates after 4 weeks of treatment in flasks were within the ranges of 47.90-81.63%, 12.91-48.50% and 70.84-98.81%, respectively and that affected the reduction of the phytotoxicity in a positive way. A. flavus with 25% concentration of YL recorded the best results in reducing COD and BOD₅ with maximum removal rates of around 48.50% and 81.63%, respectively. However, the highest NH₄⁺ removal rate of 98.81% was found in 25% concentration of OL. The 3D-EEM results showed that the intensities of the fluorescent peaks for the three treated leachates have decreased sharply after treatment. This was confirmed by the increase of the organic matter complexity index for different treatments (from 0.55 to 0.87). Therefore, A. flavus may be potentially useful in the treatment of landfill leachate at a concentration of less than or equal to 50% as it was able to remove organic and nitrogen compounds, particularly in the treatment of YL leachate at a concentration of 25%.

Assessment of the genotoxicity of antibiotics and chromium in primary sludge and compost using Vicia faba micronucleus test

The objective of this study was to investigate chemical, biological and eco-toxicological parameters of a compost produced through the co-composting of dewatered primary sludge (DPS) and date palm waste to evaluate in which extent it can exploited as a bio-fertilizer. DPS and date palm waste were co-composted in aerobic conditions for 210 days. Physico-chemical parameters were evaluated during composting (total organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, available forms of phosphorus). Furthermore, heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn) and antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines) content were analyzed in the DPS. To evaluate the genotoxicity of substrates, Vicia faba micronucleus test was carried out. Single and combined toxicities of a mixture of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, enroflxacin, nalidixic acid, roxithromycin and sulfapyridin) and chromium (Cr₂ (SO₄)₃ and K₂Cr₂O₇) were examined. Although the final compost product showed a significant decrease of the genotoxicity, almost 50% of the micronucleus frequency still remained, which could be explained by the persistence of several recalcitrant compounds such as chromium and some antibiotics. Overall, the presence of antibiotics and chromium showed that some specific combination of contaminants represent an ecological risk for soil health and ecosystems even at environmentally negligible concentrations.

Fate of antibiotics present in a primary sludge of WWTP during their co-composting with palm wastes

Antibiotics persistence in the primary sludge can contribute to the emergence of these molecules in the environment and limit the agricultural recycling of sludge without any preliminary treatment. Composting is a widely used process for recycling sludges and then can contribute to the antibiotics removal. However, little interest is actually given to the evaluation of the persistence of some antibiotics families after the sludge co-composting and more particularly to the final compost valorization. In this work, antibiotics concentrations of βeta-lactams, Macrolides, Lincosamide, Tetracyclines, Sulfonamides and Fluoroquinolones were checked in the primary sludge of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of Marrakesh (Morocco) before its co-composting. The results showed a final high amount of the fluoroquinolones family (4.21 and 2.92 μg/kg DM for Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin respectively) compared to the other studied families. To assess the fate of antibiotics, the primary sludge and palm waste were windrowed and composted during 120 days. The final compost showed a high level of organic matter decomposition (52%) and a C/N ratio of 12 which insure the compost quality. The assessment of antibiotics concentrations during co-composting showed that clarithromycin is more degraded particularly during the stabilization stage (43%), the degradation of lincomycin and tetracyclines is more significant during the maturation stage (36 and 75% respectively). Ampicillin and trimethoprim were degraded all along the process of co-composting (46 and 35% respectively). By the way, the persistence of the fluoroquinolones family was observed. This persistence could be a limiting key factor for the composted sludge valorization. So, more knowledge is needed to understand fluoroquinolones behavior and, then, to optimize their composting conditions.

A pressurized liquid extraction approach followed by standard addition method and UPLC-MS/MS for a fast multiclass determination of antibiotics in a complex matrix

In this work a fast analytical method for the determination of macrolides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones in a compost originating from a mixture of sewage sludge, palm waste and grass was developed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (U-HPLC/MS). Antibiotics were extracted from compost by using the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The chromatographic separation was carried out on a T3 Cortecs C18 column using a mobile phase gradient mixture of water acidified with 1% of formic acid and acetonitrile. Recoveries of 24-30%, 53-93%, 33-57%, 69-135% and 100-171% were obtained for roxithromycin (ROX), chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), respectively. As the most part of antibiotics showed significant matrix effect (ME), the method was validated using the standard addition method (SAM) to correct the observed ME. Instrumental variation, of LC/MS system, showed that 93.75% of the relative standard deviation (RSD %) are below 15%, although the organic load of extracts. This analytical method was applied to assess the fate of antibiotics during composting. Two composting experiments were conducted separately after spiking sludge at 2 different concentrations levels. The resulting elimination rates were of 52-76, 69-100, 100 and 24-50% for ROX, CTC, OTC and CIP, respectively. These results suggest that composting process contributes to the removal of residuals concentrations of macrolides and tetracyclines while the fluoroquinolones persist in the final compost product.

Human and veterinary antibiotics during composting of sludge or manure: Global perspectives on persistence, degradation, and resistance genes

Wastewater treatment plant effluent, sludge and manure are the main sources of contamination by antibiotics in the whole environment compartments (soil, sediment, surface and underground water). One of the major consequences of the antibiotics discharge into the environment could be the prevalence of a bacterial resistance to antibiotic. In this review, four groups of antibiotics (Tetracyclines, Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides and Sulfonamides) were focused for the background on their wide spread occurrence in sludge and manure and for their effects on several target and non-target species. The antibiotics concentrations range between 1 and 136,000 μg kg^-1 of dry matter in sludge and manure, representing a potential risk for the human health and the environment. Composting of sludge or manure is a well-known and used organic matter stabilization technology, which could be effective in reducing the antibiotics levels as well as the antibiotic resistance genes. During sludge or manure composting, the antibiotics removals range between 17-100%. The deduced calculated half-lives range between 1-105 days for most of the studied antibiotics. Nevertheless, these removals are often based on the measurement of concentration without considering the matter removal (lack of matter balance) and very few studies are emphasized on the removal mechanisms (biotic/abiotic, bound residues formation) and the potential presence of more or less hazardous transformation products. The results from the few studies on the fate of the antibiotic resistance genes during sludge or manure composting are still inconsistent showing either decrease or increase of their concentration in the final product. Whether for antibiotic or antibiotic resistance genes, additional researches are needed, gathering chemical, microbiological and toxicological data to better understand the implied removal mechanisms (chemical, physical and biological), the interactions between both components and the environmental matrices (organic, inorganic bearing phases) and how composting process could be optimized to reduce the discharge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes into the environment.

Effect of dewatering and composting on helminth eggs removal from lagooning sludge under semi-arid climate

In this work, we assessed the drying and composting effectiveness of helminth eggs removal from sewage sludge of a lagoon wastewater treatment plant located in Chichaoua city. The composting was run after mixing sludge with green waste in different proportions: M1 (½ sludge + ½ green waste), M2 ([Formula: see text] sludge + [Formula: see text] green waste), and M3 ([Formula: see text] sludge + [Formula: see text] green waste) for 105 days. The analysis of the dewatered sewage sludge showed a load of 8-24 helminth eggs/g of fresh matter identified as Ascaris spp. eggs (5-19 eggs/g) followed by Toxocara spp. (0.2 to 2.4 eggs/g); Hookworm spp. and Capillaria spp. (0.4-1 egg/g); Trichuris spp., Taenia spp., and Shistosoma spp. (< 1 egg/g) in the untreated sludge. After 105 days of treatment by composting, we noted a total reduction of helminth eggs in the order of 97.5, 97.83, and 98.37% for mixtures M1, M2, and M3, respectively. The Ascaris spp. eggs were reduced by 98% for M1 and M3 treatments and by 97% for M₂ Treatment. Toxocara spp., Hookworm spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp., and Shistosoma spp. eggs were totally eliminated (100% decrease) and the Taenia spp. was absent from the first stage of composting. These results confirm the effectiveness of both dehydrating and composting processes on the removal of helminth eggs.

Evaluation of the antibiotics effects on the physical and chemical parameters during the co-composting of sewage sludge with palm wastes in a bioreactor

The objective of this study was to investigate thermal and physicochemical parameters of sewage sludge-palm waste mixtures contaminated by different families of antibiotics (tetracyclines, macrolides and fluoroquinolones) during co-composting. Sludge was spiked with chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), roxithromycin (RXY), enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP). Antibiotics were spiked at a low level, medium level, high level and a control without antibiotics was conducted. The results showed that the organic matter degradation was delayed and the carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio was affected by an increase of the antibiotics concentration. The presence of antibiotics, especially at high level, delayed the coming of the temperature maxima, and disturbed the thermophilic phase. The calorific model showed that the heat release is affected during the thermophilic phase when high antibiotics concentrations were used. In addition, the microbiological approach showed that the adsorption of antibiotics on the rachis could be probably responsible of the fungi inhibition especially during the maturation phase. Therefore, the medium and high levels of antibiotics affected the thermal, physical and chemical parameters as well as the compost quality.