Pollutants In Aquatic Environment Research Articles

Construction of biocatalysts based on P450BM3 for the degradation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widespread pollutants in aquatic environments, posing significant risks to both ecosystems and human health due to their persistence and bioaccumulation. Effective and sustainable degradation methods are urgently required to address this environmental challenge. This study aims to design and optimize a cytochrome P450BM3-based biocatalyst for the rapid and efficient degradation of NSAIDs by direct chemical intervention and protein engineering. The novel biocatalyst achieved efficient biodegradation of four common NSAIDs. Notably, the F87I/T268D mutant achieved 99.22% degradation of diclofenac (DCF) within 10min, and degraded meloxicam (MEL) and phenylbutazone (PBZ) at rates of 98.86% and 90.51% within 5min, respectively. Furthermore, the F87G mutant accomplished 99.08% degradation of acetaminophen (APAP) within just 2min. The catalytic properties of P450BM3 and its mutants were evaluated through kinetic studies, and potential degradation pathways of the four NSAIDs were proposed in conjunction with UPLC-MS. This study provides a novel biocatalytic approach for the rapid degradation of NSAIDs in aquatic systems, offering considerable environmental benefits for pollution mitigation.

Implementasi Yolo V8 pada Prototipe Autonomous Underwater Robot Berbasis Raspberry Pi 5 Guna Menanggulangi Pencemaran Sampah Plastik di Daerah Perairan

Plastic waste pollution in aquatic environments threatens marine ecosystems and human health. This study developed a prototype Autonomous Underwater Robot (AUR) based on Raspberry Pi 5, equipped with the YOLO V8 algorithm for real-time detection and classification of plastic waste. Additionally, the AUR uses a PID control system that enables movement stabilization and accurate navigation towards the target. Testing was conducted to evaluate object detection accuracy using mAP and IoU metrics, as well as the PID control performance in maintaining orientation stability. Results indicate that YOLO V8 on the AUR can detect and classify objects with an mAP of 0.6772 at IoU 0.5 and a detection accuracy of 89.6%. The PID control system, with an optimal parameter setting (Kp:Ki:Kd = 125:12:8), achieved an object center accuracy of 96.4%, orientation stability of 90.8%, and a completion time of 2 seconds, demonstrating the efficiency of the AUR in addressing plastic waste in aquatic environments effectively and sustainably.

Characterization and ecological health risks of microplastics in the water and sediment of Xinyanggang River Estuary

ABSTRACT Microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic environment has increased concerns. This study comprehensively examined properties and health risk to ecosystem of MPs in Xinyanggang River Estuary. Monthly sampling in 2023 detected MPs in water column (6.7 ± 0.55–11.6 ± 0.63 particles/L) and sediment (6.2 ± 0.78–10.2 ± 0.53 particles/g), with abundance peaking in summer, coinciding with the rainy season. The major features of the detected MPs included transparency and fiber, rayon, PVDF, PS, PE and PP composition. The dominant size fraction of detected MPs was 0.001–0.25 mm. Ecological risk assessment suggested relatively low load of MPs entering the Xinyanggang Estuary. However, polymer risk index (PRI) and potential ecological health risk index (PERI) suggested that MPs in Xinyanggang River are hazardous to ecosystem. This study firstly characterized MP contamination in Xinyangang River Estuary, and the provided results can guide the management of MPs in water environment more broadly.

Joint Toxicity and Interaction of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials with Co-Existing Pollutants in Aquatic Environments: A Review.

This review paper focuses on the joint toxicity and interaction of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) with co-existing pollutants in aquatic environments. It explores the potential harmful effects of chemical mixtures with CNMs on aquatic organisms, emphasizing the importance of scientific modeling to predict mixed toxic effects. The study involved a systematic literature review to gather information on the joint toxicity and interaction between CNMs and various co-contaminants in aquatic settings. A total of 53 publications were chosen and analyzed, categorizing the studies based on the tested CNMs, types of co-contaminants, and the used species. Common test models included fish and microalgae, with zebrafish being the most studied species. The review underscores the necessity of conducting mixture toxicity testing to assess whether the combined effects of CNMs and co-existing pollutants are additive, synergistic, or antagonistic. The development of in silico models based on the solid foundation of research data represents the best opportunity for joint toxicity prediction, eliminating the need for a great quantity of experimental studies.

Intraplanar heterostructure-mediated activation of peroxydisulfate for singular-electron-transfer degradation of organic pollutants

Activating peroxydisulfate (PDS) through electron transfer pathways (ETP) is promising for degrading organic pollutants in aquatic environments. However, enhancing the activation selectivity remains a challenge. Herein, this study developed an intraplanar heterojunction with C-ring grafted g-C3N4 (CCN) as the catalyst, enabling PDS activation through a singular ETP. The CCN/PDS system achieved complete degradation and efficient mineralization (87.15 %) of bisphenol F (BPF), significantly reducing its ecological toxicity. Both experimental and theoretical investigations revealed that the intraplanar heterojunction could modulate the orbital occupation in g-C3N4/PDS, enhancing PDS adsorption and activation selectivity. Driven by the differences in the frontier orbital energy, the CCN/PDS system achieved a singular ETP without active species formation. The CCN/PDS system efficiently degraded BPF in complex water environments, showing performance stability across a wide pH range and against various coexisting ions. In a continuous-flow automatic catalytic device, the CCN/PDS system maintained a constant 100 % BPF degradation for 600 min. This study advances the understanding of PDS activation via singular ETP and introduces a new approach to water purification.

Natural Vanadium–Titanium Magnetite Activated Peroxydisulfate and Peroxymonosulfate for Acid Orange II Degradation: Different Activation Mechanisms and Influencing Factors

Persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes have emerged as a promising approach for the degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous environments due to their ability to generate sulfate radicals (SO4−·) within catalytic systems. In this study, peroxydisulfate (PDS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were investigated with the natural vanadium–titanium magnetite (VTM) as the activator for the degradation of acid orange II. The degradation efficiency increased with higher dosages of VTM or persulfate (both PDS and PMS) at lower concentrations (below 10 mM). However, excessive PMS (higher than 10 mM) in the PMS/VTM system led to the self-consumption of free radicals, significantly inhibiting the degradation of acid orange II. The VTM-activated PDS or PMS maintained an effective degradation of acid orange II in a wide pH range (3~11), suggesting remarkable pH stability. The SO4−· was the main active species in the PDS/VTM system, while hydroxyl radical (·OH) also contributed significantly to the PMS/VTM system. In addition, PMS exhibited better thermal stability during VTM activation. Coexisting ions in an aqueous environment such as bicarbonate (HCO3–), carbonate (CO32–), and hydrogen phosphate (HPO42–) had obvious effects on persulfate activation. Our study systematically investigated the different activation processes and influencing factors associated with PDS and PMS when the natural VTM was used as a catalyst, thereby providing new insights into the persulfate-mediated degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous environments.

Impact of emerging pollutants mixtures on marine and brackish phytoplankton: diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Pharmaceuticals and ionic liquids (ILs) are emerging as significant micropollutants with environmental presence and potential ecological impacts. The possible simultaneous occurrence of these two groups of pollutants in aquatic environments raises complex challenges due to their diverse chemical properties and potential for interactive effects. Given the documented widespread presence of pharmaceuticals and the emerging concerns about ILs, the study aims to evaluate the adverse effects of binary mixtures of imidazolium ionic liquid IM1-8C(CN)3 and two representatives of pharmaceuticals: antibiotic oxytetracycline (OXTC) and metabolite carbamazepine 10,11 epoxide (CBZ-E) on the brackish cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum during chronic exposure experiments. A comprehensive approach was employed, incorporating various endpoints including oxidative stress, chlorophyll a fluorescence, detailed photoprotective and photosynthetic pigment profiles of target microorganisms to assess modes of action and identify the mixture effects of the selected substances.The observed alterations in pigment production affecting carotenoids synthesis in both selected species may be attributed to the differential impacts of these substances on the photosynthetic pathways and metabolic processes in the cyanobacterial and diatom cells. Changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence-specific parameters suggest impairment of the photosynthetic activity, particularly affecting the efficiency of photosystem II.The application of Concentration Addition (CA) and Independent Action (IA) mathematical models, complemented by the evaluation of Model Deviation Ratios (MDR), revealed predominantly antagonistic interactions within the studied mixtures. The findings of this study provide important insights into the effects of mixtures of organic micropollutants and their potential impact on environment including brackish and marine waters.

Liquid metal-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads as novel adsorbents for malachite green removal

Malachite green (MG) is widely used in aquaculture as a parasiticide. It has generated much concern due to its carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, chromosomal fractures, teratogenicity, and respiratory toxicity. Effective methods for removing MG from water or other media are highly needed. Here, liquid metal (LM) is embedded into the magnetic hydrogel to create magnetic LM hydrogel beads with high adsorption capacity. The morphology and physical properties of the LM-embedded magnetic hydrogel beads are characterized using scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and texture analysis methods. The adsorption efficiency of malachite green was assessed using spectrophotometric analysis at a wavelength of 623 nm. The hardness of these hydrogel beads reached a maximum of 4610 g, and its adsorption capacity reached 10 mg/g. Under the optimal condition, 0.05 %wt LM embedded magnetic hydrogel could remove 100 % of MG. This highly efficient magnetic adsorbent for dye removal has considerable potential for rapidly separating toxic contaminants from aquatic animal tissues, providing a cost-effective and straightforward solution to reduce dye pollution in aquatic environments and food products.

Progress in Remote Sensing of Heavy Metals in Water

This review article details the advancements in detecting heavy metals in aquatic environments using remote sensing methodologies. Heavy metals are significant pollutants in aquatic environment, and their detection and monitoring are crucial for predicting water quality. Traditional in situ water sampling methods are time-consuming and costly, highlighting the advantages of remote sensing techniques. Analysis of the reflectance and absorption characteristics of heavy metals has identified the red and near-infrared bands as the sensitive wavelengths for heavy metal detection in aquatic environments. Several studies have demonstrated a correlation between total suspended matter and heavy metals, which forms the basis for retrieving heavy metal content from TSM data. Recent developments in hyperspectral remote sensing and machine (deep) learning technologies may pave the way for developing more effective heavy metal detection algorithms.

Investigation of Cephalexin Removal Using Biochar Derived from Nephelium lappaceum Seeds

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:200%;margin-bottom:0cm;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-align:justify;text-autospace:none;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;" lang="EN-US">The improper disposal of drugs into bodies of water has become a severe environmental and health issue. Biochar synthesized from different agro residues could be a potential material for the adsorption of pollutants in aqueous environments. </span><em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal;"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;" lang="EN-US">Nephelium lappaceum</span></i></em><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;" lang="EN-US"> seeds were pyrolyzed at 600 °C in a pyrolysis reactor incorporating a slow pyrolysis process for carbonization. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the biochar before and after adsorption of the pharmaceutical pollutant cephalexin. The effects of several factors, including initial cephalexin concentration, time of contact, dosage of adsorbent, and pH, were considered for the sorption. The findings showed that the Freundlich model offered the greatest fit for adsorption. The better-fitted kinetic model was the pseudo-second-order kinetic. Based on Langmuir isotherm model, the maximum adsorption capacity of cephalexin was obtained as 63.69 mg/g. The adsorption process involves hydrogen bonding, surface complexation, electrostatic and π−π EDA interactions. The current study offers a feasible and optimistic method for using agricultural waste and an alternative adsorbent substance for recovering highly concentrated cephalexin from water-based solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

Effects of microplastics separate exposure and co-exposure to 17β-estradiol on the productive performance of juvenile female Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

Microplastics (MPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals are persistent and ubiquitous pollutants in aquatic environments. The coexistence of MPs and 17β-estradiol (E2) in aquaculture water is concerning, yet their combined impact on aquaculture products remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the individual and combined effects of MPs and E2 on juvenile female Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis). The results revealed that MPs and E2, alone and in combination, damage the histology and ultrastructure of the hepatopancreas, reduce lipid storage, and inhibit the expression of genes related to innate immunity, energy metabolism, and reproductive development in the hepatopancreas. These effects result in decreased innate immunity and impact growth and development. MPs and E2 also damage pereiopod muscles and ovarian tissues, impairing locomotor function and reproductive development. The coexposure group exhibited the combined damage effects of MPs and E2. Fluctuations in gene expression at different time points suggest that E. sinensis is self-regulated in response to external stimuli from MPs and E2. These findings emphasize the effects of MPs and E2, indicating that their coexistence in aquaculture environments threatens the productive performance of E. sinensis.

Magical role of iron nanoparticles for enhancement of thermal efficiency and gene regulation of fish in response to multiple stresses

The present study addresses the challenges of uncontrolled temperature and pollution in aquatic environments, with a focus on fish ability to tolerate high temperature. The investigation aimed to determine the role of iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) in enhancing the thermal tolerance of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus exposed to high-temperature stress, arsenic (As), and ammonia (NH3) toxicity. Fe-NPs were synthesized using green approaches, specifically from fish gill. The dietary Fe-NPs were formulated and supplemented at 10, 15, and 20 mg kg⁻1 of feed. Notably, Fe-NPs at 15 mg kg⁻1 diet significantly reduced the critical thermal minimum (CTmin) (14.44 ± 0.21 °C) and the lethal thermal minimum (LTmin) (13.46 ± 0.15 °C), compared to the control and other treatment groups. Conversely, when Fe-NPs at 15 mg kg⁻1 were supplemented with or without exposure to stressors (As + NH3+T), the critical thermal maximum (CTmax) increased to 47.59 ± 0.16 °C, and the lethal thermal maximum (LTmax) increased to 48.60 ± 0.37 °C, both significantly higher than the control and other groups. A strong correlation was observed between LTmin and CTmin (R2 = 0.90) and between CTmax and LTmax (R2 = 0.98). Furthermore, dietary Fe-NPs at 15 mg kg⁻1 significantly upregulated the expression of stress-related genes, including HSP70, iNOS, Caspase-3a, CYP450, MT, cat, sod, gpx, TNFα, IL, TLR, and Ig. The enhanced thermal tolerance (LTmin and LTmax) can be attributed to these gene regulations, suggesting the mechanistic involvement of Fe-NPs in improving thermal resilience. Overall, the findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation with Fe-NPs, particularly at 15 mg kg⁻1, improves thermal tolerance and stress response in P. hypophthalmus by enhancing gene expression and overall thermal efficiency under stressor conditions.

Occurrence and visual characterization of microplastics from Mahakam River at Tenggarong City, Indonesia

Indonesia generates approximately 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, which 4.9 million tons is mismanaged. Presently, there is significant concern on microplastics (MPs) pollution in aquatic environment. The research on the prevalence of MPs in river systems are comparatively lower than the studies conducted on marine systems. The primary goal of this research was to look into the prevalence of MPs in the river water of Mahakam of Tenggarong City, Indonesia. To adequately represent this area, a meticulous selection method was used to find five separate sampling locations, with two stations at each location, positioned 200 m apart on opposite sides of the river. According to the study's findings, MPs has been observed in the range of 19.2 ± 1.8 to 58.5 ± 3.5 particles/l. Based on the MPs type, fragments (43.4 %) were the most common type of MPs found in water samples. Furthermore, 44.6 % of the MPs had size smaller than 1000 μm. The prevalent hues observed in the water samples were transparent and black, composing 75.6 % of overall formation. The determination of microplastic polymers employed Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, revealing the presence of various type, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

Enrichment Characteristics and Ecological Risk Prediction of Pathogens on Typical Microplastic Biofilms

As an emerging niche colonized by microorganisms, microplastics may selectively enrich pathogens, resulting in crucial ecological risks and potential threats to public health in aquatic environments. However, the enrichment characteristics and ecological risks of pathogens on different microplastic biofilms remain unclear. In this study, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology was used to investigate the differences in the bacterial community structure, occurrence characteristics of pathogens, and prediction of ecological risks on five typical microplastic biofilms of polyethylene （PE）, polypropylene （PP）, polystyrene （PS）, polyethylene terephthalate （PET）, and polyvinyl chloride （PVC） through a field in-situ incubation experiment. The results showed that after 28 d of in situ incubation, the macroscopic biofilms were formed on the surface of all microplastics, and the diversity and richness of the bacterial community on all microplastic biofilms were higher than in the surrounding water, indicating that the microorganisms in the surrounding water were selectively enriched on microplastics. Each type of microplastic biofilm had formed a unique bacterial community structure； in particular, PVC microplastics were more inclined to selectively enrich the members of Proteobacteria. A total of 47 human pathogens were identified using the HPB database, including six antibiotic resistance pathogens belonging to the lists of critical priority control. The number and total abundance of human pathogens detected on microplastic biofilm were higher than those in the surrounding water, and the dominant pathogens such as Bartonella, Burkholderia, and Brucella were selectively enriched on microplastic biofilms. Microbial phenotype prediction results based on BugBase showed that three functional phenotypes including biofilm formation, mobile element contained, and potentially pathogenic on microplastic biofilms had significantly increased by 2.38%-5.57%, 0.82%-7.13%, and 3.04%-8.30%, respectively, which were mainly contributed by α-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria. These results not only indicate that the selective enrichment of opportunistic pathogens on microplastic biofilms may lead to the increased risk of pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance co-spread but also provide reference for the accurate assessment of ecological risks caused by microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

Revolutionizing waste: Harnessing agro-food hydrochar for potent adsorption of organic and inorganic contaminants in water.

Constant pollution from a wide range of human activities has a negative impact on the quantity and quality of the planet's water resources. On the other hand, agro-food waste can impact climate change and other forms of life, in addition to having social, economic, and environmental consequences. However, as a result of their inherent physicochemical properties and lignocellulosic composition, these residues are becoming increasingly recognized as valuable products in line with government policies advocating zero waste and circular economies. An advantageous way to convert these wastes into energy and chemicals is hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). This review highlights the valorization of agro-food waste into hydrochar-based adsorbents for the elimination of organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous environments. An overview of the toxicity of pollutants in aqueous environments, food waste management, as well as HTC technology was initially proposed. Then, a discussion on the conversion of major agro-food wastes into contaminant adsorbents was given in detail. Adsorption mechanisms as well as the possibility of reuse of adsorbents were also discussed. Enhanced properties of the produced materials enable them to provide competent solutions to various ecological contexts, including removing pollutants from wastewater with cost-effectiveness and satisfactory results. Besides addressing environmental concerns, this sustainable approach opens the door for more environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient applications in the future, making it an exciting prospect.

Converting large-scale waste paper fibers into lanthanum-modified cellulose carbon aerogel adsorbents for efficient phosphorus removal

This study presents the synthesis of a novel lanthanum-modified cellulose-based carbon aerogel (La-CCA) from waste printing paper, aimed at addressing the issue of phosphate pollution in aquatic environments. The objective was to develop an effective and sustainable adsorbent to mitigate eutrophication caused by excess phosphates in water bodies. La-CCA exhibited a remarkable phosphate adsorption capacity, peaking at 44.32 mg/g under optimal conditions, demonstrating its efficiency as an adsorbent. The novelty of this work lies in the use of waste paper as a raw material, coupled with lanthanum modification, which enhanced adsorption performance through multiple mechanisms, including electrostatic interactions, ligand exchange, and inner-sphere complexation. The study also discussed the retention of the microfibrous structure of cellulose, contributing to the material’s stability and functionality. Comprehensive analyses including zeta potential, FTIR, and XPS elucidate the underlying adsorption mechanisms. La-CCA was demonstrated to be easily separable from solutions with minimal lanthanum leaching, particularly under conditions above pH 3.0, underscoring its potential for practical applications in phosphate removal from nutrient-enriched waters.

Enhanced simazine degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation using hemin-doped rice husk biochar as a novel Fe/N–C catalyst

The presence of herbicides, including simazine (SIM), in aquatic environments pose significant threats to these ecosystems, necessitating a method for their removal. In this study, a hemin-doped rice husk-derived biochar (RBC@Hemin20%) was synthesized using a simple, one-step pyrolysis, and its degradation efficiency towards SIM via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was assessed. Under optimized conditions (hemin loading = 20 wt%, SIM = 0.5 ppm, RBC@Hemin20% catalyst = 0.2 g L−1, PMS = 2.0 mM, and pH = 5.84 [unadjusted]), RBC@Hemin20%, as an Fe/N–C catalyst, could activate PMS to achieve >99% degradation of SIM. Based on radical scavenger and electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) experiments, both radical (•OH and SO4•−) and non-radical (such as singlet oxygen, 1O2) mechanisms and electron transfer were involved in the degradation system. Significant mineralization (97.3%) and reusability efficiency (∼74.1% SIM degradation after 4 applications) were exhibited by the RBC@Hemin20%/PMS system, which also maintained a remarkable degradation efficiency in tap-, river-, and ground-water. Additionally, the RBC@Hemin20%/PMS system exhibited rapid degradation of tetracycline (TC) and diclofenac (DCF), indicating its prospects in the degradation of other organic pollutants of aquatic environments. The plausible degradation mechanism pathways of SIM are proposed based on identified intermediates. Finally, the toxicity of these intermediate products is analysed using the Ecological Structure Activity Relationship (ECOSAR) software. It is expected that this study will expand the current knowledge on the synthesis of efficient biomass-based Fe/N–C composites for the removal of organic pollutants in water.

Long-term PS micro/nano-plastic exposure: Particle size effects on hepatopancreas injury in Parasesarma pictum

With the widespread use of plastic products, microplastics and nanoplastics have emerged as prevalent pollutants in coastal aquatic ecosystems. Parasesarma pictum, a common estuarine crab species, was selected as a model organism. P. pictum was exposed to polystyrene (PS) particles of sizes 80 nm (80PS), 500 nm (500PS), and 1000 nm (1000PS), as well as to clean seawater (CK) for 21 days. Histological and fluorescent staining results showed that PS particles of all three sizes induced hepatopancreatic nuclear pyknosis, cell junction damage, and necrosis. The degree of damage was observed as 1000PS > 80PS > 500PS. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that major differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with cellular processes, membrane components, and catalytic activity. The respiratory chain disruptions and immune exhaustion induced by 1000PS were notably stronger than those by 80PS and 500PS. Additionally, necrosis caused hepatopancreas injury in P. pictum rather than apoptosis or autophagy after long-term PS particle exposure. Furthermore, PS particles of all three sizes inhibited innate immunity, while the complement pathway was not significantly affected in the 80PS group. This study elucidated potential distinctions in how plastic particles of varying sizes (nanoplastics, microplastics, and micro/nanoplastics) impact P. pictum, providing a reference for toxicological mechanism research on microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic organisms. Future research should focus on exploring long-term effects and potential mitigation strategies for microplastics and nanoplastics of more types and a wider range of particle size pollution in aquatic environments.

Simultaneous nutrition removal and high-efficiency biomass accumulation by microalgae using cattle wastewater

The development of the livestock industry has led to the discharge of large quantities of nutrient-rich livestock wastewater, posing a significant challenge to wastewater treatment. Improper treatment may pose potential threats to the environment and human health. Microalgae are of great interest due to their rich nutritional value and as potential agents for bioremediation of pollution in aquatic environments. In this study, mixture of 60 % cattle wastewater (CW) and 40 % BG-11, supplemented with equal parts glucose and sodium bicarbonate, was found to be optimal for high production of Chlorella sorokiniana. Under these conditions, the highest biomass, protein, lipid concentration of C. sorokiniana were 8.98×1010 cells/L, 11.82 g/L, 24.9 %, respectively, Whereas, the removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 61.44 %, 98.99 %, 89.33 % and 65.81 %, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of C. sorokiniana in simultaneous CW treatment and nutritious microalgal biomass production.

Innovative fabrication of highly efficient CeO2 ceramic nanomaterials for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of toxic contaminants under sunlight

In this research, we report an innovative sonochemical technique for synthesizing cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles utilizing glucose as a capping agent, significantly boosting their photocatalytic performance under visible light. Through meticulous optimization, our CeO2 nanoparticles demonstrated exceptional degradation efficiencies: 97.2 % for Acid Red 14, 99.1 % for Captopril, 98.7 % for Malachite Green, and 98.3 % for Amlodipine, substantially outstripping performance metrics of commercial TiO2 and untreated samples. Our kinetic analyses, based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, indicated a superior rate constant of 0.0701 min⁻1 for Acid Red 14 degradation—reflecting a stark enhancement over other catalysts tested. Furthermore, mechanistic insights revealed that the significant improvement in photocatalytic activity was predominantly due to the generation of hydroxyl radicals and effective utilization of electron vacancies, with the role of these reactive species validated by detailed scavenger tests. This enhancement in photocatalytic efficiency is attributed to the sonochemical synthesis paired with glucose modification, which optimizes the nanoparticles' surface characteristics crucial for reactivity. Moreover, the nanoparticles showcased remarkable stability and reusability, maintaining an 87.8 % degradation rate after 11 cycles, evidencing minimal loss in activity and underscoring their potential for long-term applications in environmental remediation. This study not only paves the way for the practical application of CeO2 nanoparticles in pollutant degradation but also illustrates the broader applicability of sonochemically synthesized nanomaterials in sustainable environmental management, offering a promising solution to the challenge of complex organic pollutants in aquatic environments.