Glass Column Research Articles

Differences in the physiology of Pichia pastoris grown on glycerol/glucose using polyurethane foam slabs as solid support

AbstractBACKGROUNDGrowth physiology and metabolic flux of Pichia pastoris were analyzed using glass columns containing slabs of polyurethane foam as a solid support and culture medium with glycerol or glucose as a carbon source.RESULTSMedia with glycerol produced an average of 30.91% more biomass than media where glucose was used. However, the specific growth rate registered higher values for media with glucose than those with glycerol at low substrate concentrations: 0.46 versus 0.22 h−1. Media with glycerol produced a large amount of d‐arabitol, whereas ethanol and citrate were the predominant metabolites in media with glucose. Both types of culture systems generated biphasic curves in terms of the respiratory quotient value, whose inflection point coincided with the transition from aerobic metabolism to a mixed one.CONCLUSIONAdequate oxygen transfer occurred in both culture systems; therefore, the differences found in growth physiology can be explained by the transport mechanism that internalizes glycerol, the access point to primary metabolism, and the degree of glycerol oxidation. The arrangement of cells in the polyurethane matrix allowed an attenuation of the repression phenomenon due to excess substrate for both carbon sources. This is the first work to study metabolic flux comparisons using this system. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Nanoparticle-Mediated remediation of wastewater contaminants: An inclusive analysis of glyphosate, Congo red and methyl orange

New techniques in purification are called for because, currently pollutants found within the wastewater sources are known to have adverse effects of man health, agricultural productivity and industrial applications. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficiency of different synthesized NPs in the rteutal of glyphosate, Congo red and MO from aqueous solution using a glass column. To determine the concentration of these contaminants, two analytical techniques namely High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and UV–Visible spectrophotometry were used. The findings revealed that the community removal rates differed depending on nanoparticle type, treatment time and light intensity. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONPs) were found to reduce the glyphosate concentration by 56.81 % under 100-watt light after 120 minutes. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) on the other hand were found to eliminate 62.63 % of glyphosate without the application of light for the same length of time, this figure rose to 87 % when 100-watt light was applied. ZONPs also decolourized 59 % Congo red after 4 h and the decolorization efficiency increased to 86 % when exposed to 30 watt light. Further, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) reduced MO by 23.81 % under 100-watt light for 120 minutes. This research demonstrates that NPs may have a future in regard to water treatment as agents which are efficient to high degree; and in part, the ZONPs are more effective in elimination of glyphosate while the IONPs may be better suited for the removal of Congo red. The evidence suggest that more attention should be paid to the characteristic of NPs, the treatment time, and the light intensity in case of employing the technology in water treatment.

Development of an alternative method to quantify H2S: application in wine fermentation.

A colorimetric method for the quantification of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) produced in microbial fermentations was developed using lead gelled alginate microparticles packed in glass columns. The formation of a lead sulfide complex, between H₂S and lead ion (Pb2+) immobilized on the microparticles, allowed simple and accurate quantification by colorimetry. The microparticle-loaded columns were calibrated and showed significant analytical sensitivity. The calibration curve of the system showed a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.995 and a detection limit of 1.29 ± 0.02 μg L-1. The application of the columns in laboratory wine fermentations was able to detect variations in H2S production from 10.6 to 23.5 μg L-1 by increasing the sugar content in the medium, and from 10.6 to 3.2 μg L-1 with decreasing nitrogen content in the medium. Validation of the proposed method was carried out by determining H₂S in a vinic fermentation model, the results of which were compared with those obtained using a reference chemical method. The data obtained showed no statistically significant differences between the two methods, confirming the reliability and accuracy of the developed system. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Purification and Kinetics of Chlorogenic Acid from Eucommia ulmoides Oliver Leaves by Macroporous Resins Combined with First-Principles Calculation

Background: A simple and effective method to separate chlorogenic acid from Eucommia ulmoides leaves with macroporous resin was studied in this paper. Methods: In order to optimize the separation process of chlorogenic acid from Eucommia ulmoides leaves, dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments were carried out on a glass column filled with XDA-8 resin. Based on the First-principles calculation, the possible adsorption models were simulated. Results: Among the six macroporous resins, XDA-8 showed good adsorption/desorption capacity and a high adsorption/desorption ratio for chlorogenic acid. After being treated with XDA-8 resin once, the content of chlorogenic acid from the extraction increased by 525%, and the recovery of chlorogenic acid reached 85.36%. Conclusion: At 25°C, the adsorption behavior of chlorogenic acid on XDA-8 resin was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, by calculating the charge changes of the O atom at each position in the chlorogenic acid molecule and the H atom at the adsorption site in polystyrene molecule with resin skeleton, and combining with the electron cloud density distribution diagram of chlorogenic acid and resin skeleton, the adsorption of chlorogenic acid by XDA-8 resin is mainly due to the charge transfer, which causes the electron cloud to overlap.

Hardness Reduction using Waste Plastic

This study focused on the utilisation of waste plastic as an ion exchanger to reduce water hardness. The three identical glass columns R1, R2, and R3 were used, each containing different types of waste plastic resin, such as styrofoam resin (SR), air bubble plastic resin (AR), or a mixture of both resins (MR), respectively. The plastics underwent a sulfonation process after crushing and sieving; their sulfonation was confirmed using FTIR analysis. For lab-scale experiments, each glass column was filled with sand, gravel, and coconut fiber as supporting media and equipped with a pump and flow-control valves. Groundwater collected from an urban area was passed through the columns at different flow rates and contact times. The process takes place by exchanging the Na+ ions of resins with polluting ions present in hard water. The treatment parameters involved are total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chloride, TDS, and pH. During the treatment process, pH was maintained between 7 and 8.5. All the parameters were tested twice, and the average of the observations was noted. The results showed that the maximum total hardness reduction achieved in reactors R1, R2, and R3 was 63%, 52%, and 58.6%, respectively, at a contact time of 24 h.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EXTRACTION OPTIMIZATION, ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL, AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CUCUMI S ATIVUS AND CUCUMIS MELO

Background: Cucumis plants are being frequently used to treat metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, in traditional medicinal system. Objectives: The current study sought to assess the impact of several solvents with varying polarity for the extraction of polyphenolic, and flavonoid components. Further, this study also aims to determine antioxidant activity of fruits and peels of Cucumis melo and Cucumis sativus. Methodology: Methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and n-hexane were chosen for optimal extraction. Extract yields were assessed to determine the optimal solvent solution for extraction. The TPC and TFC contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and AlCl3 method. The antioxidant potential was determined spectrophotometrically using DPPH scavenging and iron chelation assays. The fatty acid contents of methanol extract were determined by gas chromatography (GC-FID). The instrument utilized for this purpose was a Shimadzu GC-14A with a flame ionizer (FID) and a packed glass column, DEXIL-300. The column oven's temperature was kept at 180ºC for 5 minutes and programmed to 250 ºC at the rate of 5ºC/mint. The injection and detector temperature was 250ºC and 230ºC respectively. Results: The results showed that the methanol extract of C. sativus peels exhibited the highest extraction yield, TPC, and TFC 12.72 ± 0.34 mg/mL, 130.13 ± 1.23 mg/mL, and 86.56 ± 0.67 mg/mL, respectively for C. Sativus peels and for C. melo the results were as 8.32. ± 0.34 mg/mL, 68.23.13 ± 1.23 mg/mL and 48.23 ± 0.67 mg/mL, respectively. The C. Sativus peel extract also showed the highest DPPH inhibition and iron chelation activities with IC50 values of 33.34 ± 0.12 µg/mL and 30.34 ± 0.23 µg/mL. The methanol extracts also showed dose-dependent antioxidant activities. The seven fatty acids contents were found from C12 to C20 in peel extract with arachidic acid and linoleic acid in relatively greater amounts. Conclusion: The current study has shown that the methanol extract of C. sativus peel has rich total phenolic, flavonoid content, and has reasonable antioxidant activity in all of the tested methods.

A column study: Impact of redox, substrate composition and exposure order on toluene and benzene biodegradation and microbial communities

Aromatic compounds persist as hazardous contaminants in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, needing rapid and effective remediation strategies. This study evaluated toluene and benzene biodegradation under sulfate and nitrate-reducing conditions in column experiments, utilizing aquifer sediments from a contaminated site. Over a period of 36 weeks, four glass columns were operated simultaneously in an alternating flow-batch regime. Each column received either nitrate or sulfate as an electron acceptor while being exposed to different substrate compositions in varied exposure orders. A redox dependent contaminant removal efficiency was observed, with toluene removal efficiency at 81% under sulfate and 55% under nitrate-reducing conditions, and benzene removal efficiency approximately at 44% and 59%, respectively, within 4–6 weeks. The rapid removal under anaerobic conditions was attributed to the alternating flow-batch regime, allowing biomass growth in batch mode, and applying selection pressure to non-specific biodegraders during flow regime. Toluene removal remained unaffected by benzene's presence but exhibited slight inhibition in the presence of an aromatic mixture composed of BTEX, indene, indane, and naphthalene. Benzene removal efficiency dropped to 8% in the presence of toluene but remained unaffected by the mixture. Pre-exposure to a single compound enhanced breakdown efficiency when further faced with a more complex mixture. Additionally, beta-diversity analysis conducted on the four columns revealed distinct microbial community clustering between sulfate and nitrate-reducing conditions, emphasizing the determining role of redox conditions. Findings of this study can be used to develop more effective pollution cleanup strategies, specifically targeting parameters like redox conditions, substrate interactions, and pollution history, thus improving our ability to mitigate contamination across diverse environments.

Automated and parallel transfer of arrays of oriented graphene ribbons

The transfer of two-dimensional materials from their growth substrate onto application wafers is a critical bottleneck in scaling-up devices based on such nanomaterials. Here, we present an innovative approach to achieve the automated and simultaneous transfer of arrays of graphene ribbons, with precise control over their orientation and alignment onto patterned wafers. The transfer is performed in a simple, yet efficient apparatus consisting of an array of glass columns, strategically shaped to control ribbon orientation and arranged to match the destination wafer, coupled to a dual inflow/outflow pumping system. This apparatus enables the transfer of a custom array of parallel graphene ribbons in a fraction of the time required with traditional methods. The quality of the transferred graphene was evaluated using optical imaging, scanning electron microscopy, hyperspectral Raman imaging, and electrical transport: all consistently indicating that the transferred graphene exhibits excellent quality, comparable to a manual transfer by an expert user. The proposed apparatus offers several competitive advantages, including ease of use, high transfer throughput, and reduced nanomaterial consumption. Moreover, it can be used repeatedly on the same wafer to assemble arrays of overlayed materials with controlled relative orientations. This approach thus opens promising opportunities for the large-scale fabrication of various heterostructures and devices based on vertical assemblies of 2D nanomaterials.

Disinfection of Medical Solid Waste through the Application Ozone Technology: Feasibility and Effectiveness Study.

We aimed to determine the feasibility of ozone for disinfection of infectious solid waste in hospital. Spores of Bacillus atrophaeus were used to monitor the process of inactivating microbial agents using ozone in medical solid waste in the hospitals of Tabriz City, Iran. For this purpose, culture medium containing the mentioned bacteria was placed in the bags containing medical wastes. The ozone generator was equipped with a constant dose of 5 grams per liter, with a discharge of 1 and 3 liters per minute and contact time of 10 to 120 min. Then the ozone exposure indicators were incubated for 24-48h at 36 ± 1 °C and, finally, the absence of colony growth in the culture medium was considered as the success of ozone in disinfection of infectious solid waste. This process was performed with 4-time replications. The complete removal of B. atrophaeus was obtained for non-compacted and compacted infectious solid waste, at contact time of 15 and 50 min, respectively. The efficiency of removal of B. atrophaeus by the process of wet ozone injection through a glass column was 100% in 30 minutes and by separate injection of water vapor into the contact tank was 100% in 50 minutes. The results of this study showed that the use of ozone technology was effective in the inactivation and destruction of microbial agents in medical solid waste. Employing different advanced technology of oxidization especially ozone in order to decrease the environmental pollution is considered as one of management approaches.

Dietary exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-contaminated Talinum Triangulare grown along polluted river.

The research aims to evaluate the source, dispersion, and human health risk assessment of PAH-contaminated Talinum Triangulare grown along the polluted Ikpoba River. The freeze-dried vegetables were sonicated with dichloromethane for an hour and then concentrated using a rotary evaporator. The extract was purified using a glass column with anhydrous Na2SO4 and silica gel and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The distribution of the contaminants showed that Pyrene < Benzo(a)anthracene ≤ Fluorene < Phenathrene ≤ Naphthalene ≤ Acenaphthene < Anthracene ≤ Acenaphthylene, while Pyrene < Benzo(a)anthracene < Fluorene < Phenathrene < Acenaphthalene ≤ Naphthalene < Anthracene < Acenaphthylene in wet and dry periods, respectively. The average ∑8 PAHs was 0.85mg/kg and 0.75mg/kg in wet and dry periods, respectively, and showed a decrease of 17.64% from wet to dry periods. The daily average dose revealed that the infant male and the adult female consumed the least and highest doses of T. Triangulare (TT), respectively. Furthermore, the hazard quotient and hazard index were < 1 for all the target groups, with adult females having higher values in both seasons. However, the incremental life cancer risk of the target group was between potential and high-potential cancer risk, with adolescent males and adult females more prone to low and high cancer risk, respectively. The isomer ratio and multivariate statistics revealed the sources of the PAH-contaminated TT to be more from pyrolysis.

Low-temperature slow-release permanganate gel for groundwater remediation: Dynamics in saturated porous media

Due to its adverse health and environmental impacts, groundwater contamination by toxic organic compounds such as chlorinated solvents is a global concern. The slow-release permanganate gel (SRP-G) is a mixture of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and colloidal silica solution. The SRP-G is designed to radially spread after injection via wells, gelate in situ to form gel barriers containing permanganate (MnO4−), and slowly release MnO4− to treat plumes of chlorinated solvents in groundwater. This study aimed to characterize the effects of temperature on the dynamics of SRP-G in saturated porous media.In gelation batch tests, the viscosity of ambient-temperature (24 °C) SRP-G with 30 g/L-KMnO4 was 21 cP at 70 min, 134 cP at 176 min, and peaked at 946 cP to solidification at 229 min. The viscosity of low-temperature (4 °C) SRP-G with 30 g/L-KMnO4 was 71 cP at 273 min, 402 cP at 392 min, and peaked at 818 cP to solidification at 485 min. A similar pattern, e.g., increased gelation lag time with low-temperature SRP-G, was observed for SRP-Gs with 40 g/L, 50 g/L, and 60 g/L KMnO4. In flow-through tests using a glass column filled with saturated sands, injection rates, spreading rates, and release durations were 0.6 mL/min, 46 mm/min, and 33 h for KMnO4(aq), 0.2 mL/min, 2 mm/min, and 38 h for ambient-temperature SRP-G, and 0.4 mL/min, 16 mm/min, and 115 h for low-temperature SRP-G, respectively. These results indicated that the injectability, injection rate, and gelation lag time of SRP-G and the size, release rate, and release duration of MnO4− gel barriers can be increased at low temperatures. The low-temperature SRP-G scheme can be useful for treating large or dilute dissolved plumes of chlorinated solvents or other pollutants in groundwater.

Optimized Extraction and Characterization of Allicin from Snow Mountain Garlic and its Anticancer Potential via Allicin-loaded CuO Nanoparticles

This study aimed to optimize the extraction and purification of allicin and to characterize allicin-loaded CuO nanoparticles for potential anticancer applications. Initially, various solvents, including MilliQ water, methanol at different concentrations, and phosphate buffer at varying pH levels, were tested to maximize the yield and purity of allicin. The extraction efficiency was evaluated by measuring the absorbance at 244 nm using UV spectrophotometry. The highest extraction efficiency was achieved with MilliQ water (0.92 ± 0.03) and 40% methanol (0.89 ± 0.05). Additionally, phosphate buffer pH 2.5 in 40% methanol also demonstrated good efficiency (0.86 ± 0.04). Following extraction, the allicin was purified using a glass column to remove impurities, ensuring a high degree of purity for subsequent applications. The chemical structure and purity of the purified allicin were confirmed using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To enhance the stability and bioavailability of allicin, allicin-loaded CuO nanoparticles were formulated. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis revealed a mean particle size of 125 nm, while zeta potential measurements indicated a surface charge of -21.74 mV, suggesting good stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided detailed insights into the morphology and structure of the nanoparticles. The successful optimization of allicin extraction and purification, coupled with the characterization of allicin-loaded nanoparticles, paves the way for their potential application in cancer therapy. The enhanced stability and bioavailability of allicin through nanoparticle formulation hold promise for improving its therapeutic efficacy against cancer. Further studies are warranted to explore the anticancer activity of these nanoparticles in biological systems.

Protocell Flow Reactors for Enzyme and Whole-Cell Mediated Biocatalysis.

The design and construction of continuous flow biochemical reactors comprising immobilized biocatalysts have generated great interest in the efficient synthesis of value-added chemicals. Living cells use compartmentalization and reaction-diffusion processes for spatiotemporal regulation of biocatalytic reactions, and implementing these strategies into continuous flow reactors can offer new opportunities in reactor design and application. Herein, the fabrication of protocell-based continuous flow reactors for enzyme and whole-cell mediated biocatalysis is demonstrated. Semipermeable membranized coacervate vesicles are employed as model protocells that spontaneously sequester enzymes or accumulate living bacteria to produce embodied microreactors capable of single- or multiple-step catalytic reactions. By packing millions of the enzyme/bacteria-containing coacervate vesicles in a glass column, a facile, cost-effective, and modular methodology capable of performing oxidoreductase, peroxidase and lipolytic reactions, enzyme-mediated L-DOPA synthesis, and whole-cell glycolysis under continuous flow conditions, is demonstrated. It is shown that the protocell-nested enzymes and bacterial cells exhibit enhanced activities and stability under deleterious operating conditions compared with their non-encapsulated counterparts. These results provide a step toward the engineering of continuous flow reactors based on cell-like microscale agents and offer opportunities in the development of green and sustainable industrial bioprocessing.

In vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract and its fractions from Cyrtocarpa procera fruits on Haemonchus contortus

This study describes the in vitro anthelmintic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract (HA-E) and its fractions from Cyrtocarpa procera fruits against Haemonchus contortus eggs and infective larvae. The HA-E was subjected to bipartition using ethyl acetate, which resulted in an aqueous fraction (Aq-F) and an organic fraction (EtOAc-F). The HA-E and both fractions were tested using the egg hatching inhibition assay (EHIA) and the larval mortality test (LMT). Fractionation of the EtOAc-F was achieved using different chromatographic processes, i.e., open glass column and HPLC analysis. Fractionation of the EtOAc-F gave 18 subfractions (C1R1-C1R18), and those that showed the highest yields (C1R15, C1R16, C1R17 and C1R18) were subjected to anthelmintic assays. The HA-E and the EtOAc-F displayed 100% egg hatching inhibition at 3 and 1 mg/mL, respectively, whereas Aq-F exhibited 92.57% EHI at 3 mg/mL. All subfractions tested showed ovicidal effect. Regarding the larval mortality test, HA-E and EtOAc-F exhibited a larvicidal effect higher than 50% at 50 and 30 mg/mL, respectively. The subfractions that showed the highest larval mortality against H. contortus were C1R15 and C1R17, with larval mortalities of 53.57% and 60.23% at 10 mg/mL, respectively. Chemical analysis of these bioactive subfractions (C1R15 and C1R17) revealed the presence of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and ellagic acid. This study shows evidence about the ovicidal and larvicidal properties of C. procera fruits that could make these plant products to be considered as a natural potential anthelmintic agents for controlling haemonchosis in goats and sheep.

BREWERY WASTE FOR INDIGO BLUE ADSORPTION

Brewery waste (BW) is among the natural adsorbents that have been evaluated for different chemical pollutants removal present in the aqueous medium. In this work, we investigated the BW capacity to remove the commercial indigo blue dye (IB) from laboratory aqueous solutions and river water samples. Results utilizing laboratory distilled water showed a satisfactory maximum capacity (166.94 mg/g) of BW for IB. The ∆G value (-16.53 Kj/mol) and other parameters reveal a favorable adsorptive process. Furthermore, tests in glass columns using river water samples enriched with IB (1,000 mg/L) revealed high BW efficiency for IB removal (96.0 %). These results are important to demonstrate that BW can be more a new alternative for IB removal from water. In addition, this study provides an alternative for the reuse of BW.

Impact of sand media continuous drying and rewetting cyclic on nutrients transformation performance from reclaimed wastewater effluent at soil aquifer treatment

Reusing reclaimed wastewater became a practical resource for water utilization in groundwater recharge and irrigation activities. However, the quality of reclaimed wastewater needs improvement to meet the environmental regulations and reduce contamination risks. A laboratory-scale study simulated a soil aquifer treatment (SAT) system, exploring the synergistic effects of wet and dry cycles alongside key physicochemical parameters on pollutant removal efficiency using a glass column filled with quartz sand as the filtration medium. The investigation focused on the cyclic wetting and drying phases to unravel their impact on removing NH4+, NO3−, and PO43−. The synthetic wastewater introduced into the system exhibited varying pollutant concentrations during wet and dry periods, influenced by dynamic soil water content (WC%), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP). The high removal rates of 93% for PO43− and 43% for Total N2 demonstrate the system’s capability to reduce concentrations significantly under dynamic alternating between wet and dry conditions. Results unveiled that the wet period consistently yielded higher removal rates for N2 species. Interestingly, for PO43−, the dry periods demonstrated a higher removal efficiency. Moreover, the study identified an average NO3− production during the experimental phases as a byproduct of nitrification. The average NO3− production in wet periods was 2.5 mg/L, whereas it slightly decreased to 2.2 mg/L in dry periods. These findings underscore the nuanced influence of wet and dry conditions on specific pollutants within SAT systems. Applying the logistic regression model and principal component analysis demonstrated the statistical significance of WC, pH, DO, and ORP in predicting wet/dry conditions, providing quantitative insights into their influential roles on the nutrient dynamic concentrations. This study contributes valuable data to our understanding of SAT systems, offering practical implications for designing and implementing sustainable wastewater treatment practices and pollution management across diverse environmental contexts.

Development of an analytical method for the determination of more than 300 pesticides and metabolites in the particulate and gaseous phase of ambient air

Pesticides can enter the atmosphere during spraying or after application, resulting in environmental or human exposure. The study describes the optimisation and validation of analytical methods for the determination of more than 300 pesticides in the particulate and gaseous phases of the air. Pesticides were sampled with high-volume air samplers on glass-fibre filters (GFFs) and glass columns filled with polyurethane foam (PUF) and XAD-2 resin. Comparing different extraction methods, a QuEChERS extraction with acetonitrile was selected for the GFFs. For the PUF/XAD-2 columns, a cold-column extraction with dichloromethane was used. Instrumental determination was performed using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-QTOF) and gas chromatography/electron impact ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (GC/EI-MS/MS). Recovery experiments showed recovery rates between 70 and 120% for 263 compounds on the GFFs and 75 compounds on the PUF/XAD-2 columns. Semi-quantitative determination was performed for 39 compounds on the GFFs and 110 compounds on the PUF/XAD-2 columns. Finally, 27 compounds on the GFFs and 138 compounds on the PUF/XAD-2 columns could be determined only qualitatively. For the determination of the PUF/XAD-2 samples, signal suppression (LC) or signal enhancement (GC) due to matrix effects were determined. Method quantification limits of the optimised methods ranged from 30 to 240 pg/m3 for the target compounds on the GFFs, and from 8 to 60 pg/m3 on the PUF/XAD-2 columns. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by means of environmental air samples from an agricultural area in the Netherlands.

Adsorption of Heavy Metals on Alkali-Activated Zeolite Foams.

Elevated concentrations of heavy metals in natural waters can cause significant ecological problems. It is therefore essential to ensure their removal from any water discharged into the environment immediately, especially in case of an accident, where there is a risk of releasing large quantities or high concentrations. The aim of this paper is to test a newly developed adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions-in particular, it is very fast adsorption, and thus efficiency, during clean-ups. The alkali-activated foamed zeolite adsorbent was laboratory-prepared and -tested in both batch and flow-through arrangements on single and multi-component solutions and compared with natural zeolite. The experimental setup for batch adsorption consisted of a set of samples and solutions containing iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc and nickel. The samples were put on a horizontal shaker with a 500 mg adsorbent loading in a 50 mL solution. The column adsorption experimental setup consisted of a glass column with an inside diameter of 15 mm and a bed length of 165 mm. A measured amount of each adsorbent was added to the column to achieve a filter fixed-bed height of 160 mm. The high efficiency of the tested adsorbent on various heavy metals was confirmed. The adsorbent has a high potential for use in decontamination processes, water protection and landscape revitalization. Due to its rapid precipitation and subsequent fixation of metal cations in the form of insoluble oxide or hydroxide, it can be used as an emergency adsorbent, the great advantage of which is its low production cost and natural origin.

Detection and Remediation of Dibutyl Phthalate in Plastic Bottle-Packaged Drinking Water

In the present study, we have reported the detection of Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), a plasticizer used to make plastic material processable but is harmful to human health. Plastic water storage bottles available in the local market were used for sampling. The samples were divided into two groups based on different localities which included local city market and the markets on the outskirt of the city. The amount of DBP in the drinking water was detected and a simple water purification method was developed based on passing the contaminated water through a pre-treated sawdust glass column. This study will be useful for constructing a drinking water treatment plant on an economical basis.

The use of foam glass to protect the degrading permafrost soils

The article is devoted to the study of the use of foam glass to prevent the degradation of permafrost soils due to climate warming. In the Frost 3D software, for the conditions of Norilsk, a foam glass device for thermal insulation of a base composed of clayey soils, as well as transformed with the help of crushed stone or foam glass columns, was modeled without taking into account the thermal influence of the building. In addition, the insulation of the soils of the base transformed by columns in the ventilated underground of a new (in Yakutsk) and existing (in Norilsk) buildings designed according to the I principle of construction on permafrost soils was investigated. The forecast of the temperature distribution in the ground frozen base without taking into account the thermal influence of the building showed that in conditions of climate warming, the installation of thermal insulation of the base with the use of foam glass allows to reduce the thickness of the seasonally thawed layer by 0.3…0.4 m and reduce the temperature of permafrost. Foam glass can be used for thermal insulation of weak soil bases transformed with the help of crushed stone columns, as well as, in the future, as a material for the columns themselves. For a new building on a base transformed by crushed stone columns, covering the surface of the ventilated underground with a heat-insulating foam glass material during the warm season made it possible to significantly reduce the thickness of the seasonally thawed layer (by 0.9 m). The numerical simulation has shown the effectiveness of the use of foam glass to prevent the degradation of permafrost soils due to climate warming. Foam glass is a promising material for the development of technological measures that ensure the operability of the bases and foundations of buildings and structures at permafrost in the conditions of climate change.