Remediation Options Research Articles

92 Honest Broker Tool to Automate Data Extraction from Clinical Research Data Warehouse

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To describe an Honest Broker (HB) tool and workflow integrated with the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to automate requests, approvals and delivery of both de-identified and identified data extractions from a clinical research data warehouse (CRDW). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The HB tool has predefined domain tables and is closely integrated IRB for quick and easy review and approval. Investigators can access patient data using query tools, barcodes from biospecimens or build a query in TriNetX and provide the patient list as an input for the HB tool. For de-identified data extraction, the required data domain tables and date ranges can be selected and submitted in the HB tool. For identified data extractions, investigators with an approved IRB protocol can enter the protocol number and the approved date range in the HB tool. This request is automatically forwarded to the IRB for review. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: For de-identified data extraction, an email alert is automatically sent to the investigator once the data extract is completed. For identified data extraction, if IRB approves the request, an HB is immediately notified to release the data. Data release triggers two emails to the investigator: (1) a link to an encrypted zipped file with the requested data, and (2) a password to unlock the encrypted file. If the request is denied, the IRB sends an email to the investigator with the reason for denial and options for remediation. The entire HB workflow is accomplished in a secure environment with an audit trail from the initial data request to data download by the investigator. Since the launch of the HB tool, the time from data request to delivery is approximately an hour for deidentified data and 24 hrs for identified data. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The HB tool has increased successful data delivery in support of publications, grant submissions, and clinical trial recruitment. Optimization of data extraction from the CRDW through automation and integration with the IRB can minimize interaction with data analysts and IRB staff, thus accelerating the conduct of clinical research.

Multi-tier life cycle assessment for evaluating low carbon strategies in soil remediation

Addressing soil pollution and achieving global carbon neutrality requires low carbon remediation practices. When selecting the optimal remediation techniques, a comprehensive model is required to assess the environmental and economic impacts accurately. In the present study, a spatial three-tier framework that combines process cycle assessment (PLCA), Input output analysis (IOA) and Multi-Regional Input Output analysis (MRIOA) has been used to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of three commonly used remediation alternatives at a contaminated site in Hubei Province, China, as well as the indirect GHG emissions of the industry chain at provincial and national scale. The three remediation techniques were coprocessing in a cement kiln (CCK), ex-situ solidification and stabilization (ESS), and soil washing (SLW). Using a tiered hybrid life cycle assessment (THLCA) approach, the results demonstrated the importance of including off-site emissions in life cycle assessments. It was found that CCK had the lowest total GHG emissions among the three alternatives. Off-site greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with three soil remediation alternatives vary significantly, with CCK exhibiting the lowest levels and ESS the highest. Soil remediation emissions mainly affected Hubei Province, with varying spillover effects on other regions, such as Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Liaoning, and Gansu, which supplied material resources and power supply for the soil remediation project. The production and supply of electricity and heat (PSE) sector contributed the most to off-site emissions, accounting for 56.05%, 67.76%, and 67.30% of total emissions for CCK, ESS, and SLW, respectively. Overall, the present study provides fresh insights to support a more holistic low-carbon assessment of soil remediation options.

Immobilisation remediation of arsenic-contaminated soils with promising CaAl-layered double hydroxide and bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and speciation-based health risk assessment

Arsenic (As)-contaminated soil poses great health risk to human mostly through inadvertent oral exposure. We investigated CaAl-layered double hydroxide (CaAl-LDH), a promising immobilising agent, for the remediation of As-contaminated Chinese soils. The effects on specific soil properties and As fractionation were analyzed, and changes in the health risk of soil As were accurately assessed by means of advanced in vivo mice model and in vitro PBET-SHIME model. Results showed that the application of CaAl-LDH significantly increased soil pH and concentration of Fe and Al oxides, and effectively converted active As fractions into the most stable residual fraction, guaranteeing long-term remediation stability. Based on in vivo test, As relative bioavailability was significantly reduced by 37.75%. Based on in vitro test, As bioaccessibility in small intestinal and colon phases was significantly reduced by 25.65% and 28.57%, respectively. Furthermore, As metabolism (reduction and methylation) by the gut microbiota inhabiting colon was clearly observed. After immobilisation with CaAl-LDH, the concentration of bioaccessible As(Ⅴ) in the colon fluid was significantly reduced by 61.91%, and organic As (least toxic MMA(V) and DMA(V)) became the main species, which further reduced the health risk of soil As. In summary, CaAl-LDH proved to be a feasible option for immobilisation remediation of As-contaminated soils, and considerable progress was made in relevant health risk assessment.

Assessment of the radionuclide remediation potential of novel miscanthus hybrids

There are few studies related to the radionuclide remediation options, which comply to the demands of the environmentally non-destructive physical remediation methods. So far, most of the research was conducted on the phytoremediation capacity of different energy crops, as well as the established miscanthus hybrids which involved metal and heavy metal contaminants. Hence, the objective of this research was the radioecological characterization of the examined agroecosystem, including the initial source of the radionuclides (soil) as well as different miscanthus hybrids grown on the same soil. The results have shown that the radioactive content of soil was similar to the global averages. All measurements of the activity concentration of 137Cs in miscanthus samples were below the detection limits. There is also an indication that 210Pb is leaching into the lower layers (or is being taken up by miscanthus plant from the upper layers). Moreover, transfer factors (TFs) for radionuclides, as a more precise parameter for evaluating the phytoremediation potential, were calculated; the TFs were found to be very low for 226Ra (≤0.07), TFs for 40K (≤0.39) and for 232Th (≤0.21) were in the lower limits, whereas the TFs for 238U were found to be the highest (≤0.92). For 210Pb, the TFs were not calculated, since the expectation was that a significant part of the measured quantity came from the air, and not through the soil. Having in mind the sustainability and the circularity aspect of the radionuclide phytoremediation system, the appropriate management method should be applied for the disposal and utilization of the biomass contaminated with radionuclides. This research has shown that the radiological content in miscanthus is high enough and the ash content is low enough that miscanthus ash could be considered as a NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material), and it can be further used for the construction industry (i.e. concrete, tiles), in mixtures with other materials with certain limitations, similar to the utilization of ash from other sources such as coal or wood.

Synergizing date palm seeds-derived oxidized activated carbon: Sustainable innovation for enhanced water retention, efficient wastewater treatment, and synthetic dye removal

Herein, this study explores the efficacy of oxidized activated carbon from date palm seeds (OACDS) as a multifaceted solution for sustainable wastewater treatment and water retention improvement. Through oxidation synthesis, OACDS demonstrates exceptional capability in adsorbing contaminants from water sources, offering a promising eco-friendly option for environmental remediation. Batch adsorption experiments highlight the rapid and efficient removal of Rh-6 G dyes, achieving an impressive 88.06% adsorption rate under optimized conditions of pH 6 and a 70-minute contact time. Moreover, OACDS exhibits remarkable adsorption capacities, reaching 91.3% at a 60 mg adsorbent dose and 94.23% at 55°C. Kinetic and adsorption analyses align with PSO and Langmuir models, indicating chemisorption and mono-layered adsorption of Rh-6 G on OACDS. Thermodynamic evaluation suggests the process's spontaneity and endothermic nature. The regeneration experiment revealed a notable 10.9% decrease in the adsorption capacity of OACDS towards Rh-6 G after five cycles. These findings substantiate the reusability and cost-effectiveness of OACDS, underscoring its potential economic advantages. Beyond wastewater treatment, OACDS showcases notable water retention properties, promising for agricultural applications. Its integration into clay and sandy soil enhances water retention capacities, with the clay soil-OACDS mixture displaying a peak of 16.8 mL. The material's rough and porous surface positively impacts water retention in crops, benefiting agricultural yields. Comprehensive characterization analyses using SEM, FTIR, and XRD support OACDS's effectiveness in adsorption, highlighting its amorphous structure and suitability for environmental applications. This study positions OACDS as a comprehensive solution addressing wastewater treatment and water conservation challenges, encouraging further exploration of agricultural byproducts for sustainable environmental solutions.

Evaluation of the potential of agricultural wastes-cattle manure and poultry manure for bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated soil

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria suffers from petroleum pollution, which affects ecosystem functioning and human health, which necessitates finding sustainable remediation options that utilize local resources. In this work, cattle manure (CM) and poultry manure (PM), which are primarily utilized as biofertilizer for agricultural purposes, were utilized to bioremediate crude oil-contaminated soil on a laboratory scale. In addition to being readily accessible, CM and PM are also sustainable bioresources that are host to a wide variety of microflora that can be used for bioaugmentation. At the end of the 1.5 month study, the impact of the amendments on speciated total petroleum hydrocarbons (STPH) in the range of nC10-nC40 was evaluated. A significantly higher STPH degradation of 36% in PM-amended soil was observed compared to CM-amended soil (23%); and only 1% degradation in enhanced by natural attenuation soil (RENA). The pre-dominant aliphatic fractions in the samples analyzed were nC16-nC35. In comparison to the CM amendment option, PM amendments achieved better bioremediation of these fractions. Moreover, the effect of biowaste ratio amendment to the contaminated soil showed that the ratio 1:1 (w/w) for both bioadmendments performed better than the ratio 1:2 (w/w), suggesting that the higher the amount of amendment to contaminated soil, the more effective the bioremediation. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of PM as a sustainable, affordable, and local bioremediation technique for recovering soil contaminated by crude oil in the Niger Delta.

Phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils by rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and underlying molecular mechanisms for copper absorption and sequestration

High levels of copper released in the soil, mainly from anthropogenic activity, can be hazardous to plants, animals, and humans. The present research aimed to estimate the suitability and effectiveness of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) as a possible soil remediation option and to uncover underlying adaptive mechanisms A pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of copper stress on agronomic and yield traits for 32 rapeseed genotypes. The copper-tolerant genotype H2009 and copper-sensitive genotype ZYZ16 were selected for further physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses. The results exhibited a significant genotypic variation in copper stress tolerance in rapeseed. Specifically, the ratio of seed yield under copper stress to control ranged from 0.29 to 0.74. Furthermore, the proline content and antioxidant enzymatic activities in the roots were greater than those in the shoots. The accumulated copper in the roots accounted for about 50% of the total amount absorbed by plants; thus, the genotypes possessing high root volumes can be used for rhizofiltration to uptake and sequester copper. Additionally, the pectin and hemicellulose contents were significantly increased by 15.6% and 162%, respectively, under copper stress for the copper-tolerant genotype, allowing for greater sequestration of copper ions in the cell wall and lower oxidative stress. Comparative analysis of transcriptomes and metabolomes revealed that excessive copper enhanced the up-regulation of functional genes or metabolites related to cell wall binding, copper transportation, and chelation in the copper-tolerant genotype. Our results suggest that copper-tolerant rapeseed can thrive in heavily copper-polluted soils with a 5.85% remediation efficiency as well as produce seed and vegetable oil without exceeding food quality standards for the industry. This multi-omics comparison study provides insights into breeding copper-tolerant genotypes that can be used for the phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted soils.

An identification of optimal waste disposal method for dumpsite remediation using the Fermatean fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method.

Improperly managed wastes that have been dumped in landfills over the years pose various challenges, but they also offer potential benefits. The feasibility of recycling such waste depends on the type of wastes, the condition of dumpsites, and the technology implemented for disposal. The selection of an alternative waste disposal method from the many available options for dumpsite remediation is a complex decision-making process among experts. The primary aim of this study is to assist in an extended multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method to reduce complexity in the proposed dumpsite remediation problem influenced by multiple criteria and to identify the optimal waste disposal method. Data uncertainties are managed with the proposed Fermatean fuzzy preference scale, and the importance of all socio-economic criteria is assessed using the full consistency method (FUCOM). The final ranking results of the weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS) method identify that the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) process could play a significant role in the disposal of land-filled unprocessed wastes, promoting sustainable waste management. Meanwhile, the methodology explores the idea that financial and logistical constraints may limit the feasibility of large-scale recycling efforts. This combination of environmental science and decision science addresses real-world challenges, helping municipal solid waste management authorities implement sustainable waste management practices.

Effective RhB Dye Removal Using Sustainable Natural Bioadsorbents Synthesized from Avocado Seed and Skin

Managing waste generated by the food industry is a pressing environmental challenge, and traditional disposal methods such as landfilling or incineration are no longer viable solutions. However, by recovering and valorizing waste in wastewater treatment, we can address the waste management issue and the energy-intensive nature of conventional treatment methods with processes compatible with renewable energy technologies. In this work, avocado skin and seed are valorized for their application in removing Rhodamine B (RhB) dye. Avocado skin (ASk) and seed (ASe) were recovered and recycled separately to develop natural bioadsorbents. Biomaterials were characterized by XRD, XPS, ICP-MS, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, N2 adsorption/desorption, and SEM. The ASk and ASe bioadsorbents were employed to remove RhB at four experimental conditions: pH, RhB concentration, bioadsorbent concentration, and temperature. RhB removal was followed by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The results show that at pH 3, the highest percentages of dye removal are achieved, using ASk and ASe, with 88 and 92% removal, respectively. ASe bioadsorbent is more effective for removing RhB dye, reaching 92% after 4 h of contact with 2 g L−1 of bioadsorbent and at 30 °C. Experimental results better fit a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption model, with maximum adsorption capacities of 13.1240 and 17.9998 mg g−1 for ASk and ASe, respectively. The results show that natural bioadsorbents are suitable options for environmental remediation.

AI-Driven Analysis of Integrative Approach to Genetic Predispositions and Ayurvedic Treatments Related to Mental Health

Currently people concentrate more on Lifestyle diseases compared to inheritable diseases. An inheritable complaint is caused by one or further abnormalities in the genome. As a system of drug, Ayurveda cannot overlook the significance of a case's cerebral state in diagnosing and treating ails. When there's no remedial option, it's preferable to follow the Acharya’s recommended preventives. medicines that are synthesised for mortal health Original specifics for mortal brain ails are expensive, long- acting characteristic treatments that can have substantial and necessary adverse goods and low case adherence. Psychiatric conditions, for the utmost part, respond well to treatment. numerous Ayurvedic remedies are salutary in the treatment of psychiatric problems. Psychic pressures are the core cause of colorful conditions, according to medical wisdom. Ayurveda has a well- developed area of psychiatry, with scientifically validated styles for treating internal and physical problems related to cerebral imbalance.

Risk Assessment and Remediation Options for Oil-Contaminated Soil and Groundwater: A Comparative Analysis of Chemical, Physical, And Biological Treatment Methods

Oil contamination of soil and groundwater poses significant environmental and health risks, prompting this study to evaluate the effectiveness, costs, and environmental impacts of various treatment methods. A comprehensive review of 50 case studies and research papers reveals that biological treatment methods, specifically biodegradation and phytoremediation, achieve the highest contaminant removal rates (85-95%) at lower costs ($50-100/m3), outperforming chemical oxidation and solvent extraction (60-80%, $100-500/m3) and physical methods (40-70%, high energy consumption). Furthermore, risk assessment indicates biological methods pose the lowest environmental risks, while chemical methods pose the highest. Sensitivity analysis underscores the importance of site-specific conditions and contaminant levels. Overall, the results suggest biological treatment methods, particularly biodegradation, as the most effective and cost-efficient option for oil-contaminated soil and groundwater remediation.

Can polymeric surface modification and sulfidation of nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) improve arsenic-contaminated agricultural soil restoration via ex situ magnet-assisted soil washing?

Environmental context Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural soil threatens safe agricultural production. Therefore, an ex situ magnet-assisted soil washing, using different types of nanoscale zerovalent iron was tested as a remediation option in soil restoration. Uncoated nanoparticles was the best tested option, with As removal at 45.5% and the nanoparticles were reusable up to four times. Rationale Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural soil threatens safe food and medicinal herb production for millions of people. Methodology Therefore, ex situ magnet-assisted soil washing of metal-contaminated soil using bare nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) is proposed as a novel remediation alternative. Conceptually, metal-contaminated soil is mixed with water and bare NZVI, and metals in the soil are transferred to the bare NZVI. The metal-sorbed NZVI is then retrieved from the soil slurry through magnetic separation, leaving behind treated soil. This study evaluated if advanced surface modification can improve ex situ soil restoration efficacy including polymeric coating and sulfidation of NZVI, proven beneficial in situ NZVI application. Sulfur and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) at various S/Fe and CMC/NZVI ratios were used to modify NZVI via sulfidation and physisorption. Result Results revealed that sulfidised NZVI (S-NZVI) performed poorer (41.0%) than bare NZVI (45.5%) in As removal, even at the optimised S/Fe ratio of 0.31. This could be due to acid release via oxidative dissolution of FeS2 on the S-NZVI surface driven by O2. The incidental acid-dissolved NZVI sorption sites decreased As removal efficacy. Similarly, CMC-modified NZVI failed to improve As removal efficacy (11.0%) because it reduced NZVI reactivity and blocked As accessibility to NZVI sorptive sites. Discussion Nevertheless, S-NZVI and CMC-modified NZVI promoted non-phytoavailable As fractions in the treated soil. Overall, bare NZVI performed the best for As removal but moderately transformed As into more non-phytoavailable fractions. Bare NZVI can be reused for four cycles of soil washing. In every case, mobile As in treated soil was lower than the maximum contamination level.

From lab to field: Prussian blue frameworks as sustainable cathode materials.

Prussian blue and Prussian blue analogues have attracted increasing attention as versatile framework materials with a wide range of applications in catalysis, energy conversion and storage, and biomedical and environmental fields. In terms of energy storage and conversion, Prussian blue-based materials have emerged as suitable candidates of growing interest for the fabrication of batteries and supercapacitors. Their outstanding electrochemical features such as fast charge-discharge rates, high capacity and prolonged cycling life make them favorable for energy storage application. Furthermore, Prussian blue and its analogues as rechargeable battery anodes can advance significantly by the precise control of their structure, morphology, and composition at the nanoscale. Their tunable structural and electronic properties enable the detection of many types of analytes with high sensitivity and specificity, and thus, they are ideal materials for the development of sensors for environmental detection, disease trend monitoring, and industrial safety. Additionally, Prussian blue-based catalysts display excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of pollutants and generation of hydrogen. Specifically, their excellent light capturing and charge separation capabilities make them stand out in photocatalytic processes, providing a sustainable option for environmental remediation and renewable energy production. Besides, Prussian blue coatings have been studied particularly for corrosion protection, forming stable and protective layers on metal surfaces, which extend the lifespan of infrastructural materials in harsh environments. Prussian blue and its analogues are highly valuable materials in healthcare fields such as imaging, drug delivery and theranostics because they are biocompatible and their further functionalization is possible. Overall, this review demonstrates that Prussian blue and related framework materials are versatile and capable of addressing many technical challenges in various fields ranging from power generation to healthcare and environmental management.

Lead (Pb) in Shooting Range Soil: a Systematic Literature Review of Contaminant Behavior, Risk Assessment, and Remediation Options

Lead (Pb) in Shooting Range Soil: a Systematic Literature Review of Contaminant Behavior, Risk Assessment, and Remediation Options

Potassium jarosite seeding of soils decreases lead and arsenic bioaccessibility: A path toward concomitant remediation

Soils are common sources of metal(loid) contaminant exposure globally. Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are of paramount concern due to detrimental neurological and carcinogenic health effects, respectively. Pb and/or As contaminated soils require remediation, typically leading to excavation, a costly and environmentally damaging practice of removing soil to a central location (e.g., hazardous landfill) that may not be a viable option in low-income countries. Chemical remediation techniques may allow for in situ conversion of soil contaminants to phases that are not easily mobilized upon ingestion; however, effective chemical remediation options are limited. Here, we have successfully tested a soil remediation technology using potted soils that relies on converting soil Pb and As into jarosite-group minerals, such as plumbojarosite (PLJ) and beudantite, possessing exceptionally low bioaccessibility [i.e., solubility at gastric pH conditions (pH 1.5 to 3)]. Across all experiments conducted, all new treatment methods successfully promoted PLJ and/or beudantite conversion, resulting in a proportional decrease in Pb and As bioaccessibility. Increasing temperature resulted in increased conversion to jarosite-group minerals, but addition of potassium (K) jarosite was most critical to Pb and As bioaccessibility decreases. Our methods of K-jarosite treatment yielded <10% Pb and As bioaccessibility compared to unamended soil values of approximately 70% and 60%, respectively. The proposed treatment is a rare dual remediation option that effectively treats soil Pb and As such that potential exposure is considerably reduced. Research presented here lays the foundation for ongoing field application.

Review on NIPAH Virus

Nipah contagion is an acute febrile illness that can beget fatal encephalitis. It's an arising zoonotic paramyxovirus aboriginal to south- east Asia and the western Pacific, and can be transmitted by its primary force of fruit batons, through intermediate beast vectors and by mortal- to- mortal spread. Outbreaks of Nipah contagion encephalitis have passed in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, India and Bangladesh, with the most recent outbreak being in Kerala, India in late. Extremely high case casualty rates have been reported from these outbreaks, and to date no vaccines or remedial operation options are available. Combining this with its propensity to present non-specifically, Nipah contagion encephalatis present a grueling opinion that should not be missed in cases returning from aboriginal regions. Raising mindfulness of the epidemiology clinical donation and threat factors of constricting Nipah contagion is vital to honor and manage implicit outbreaks of this complaint in the UK

Remediation options to reduce bioaccessible and bioavailable lead and arsenic at a smelter impacted site - consideration of treatment efficacy

In this study, smelter contaminated soil was treated with various soil amendments (ferric sulfate [Fe2(SO4)3], triple superphosphate [TSP] and biochar) to determine their efficacy in immobilizing soil lead (Pb) and arsenic (As). In soils incubated with ferric sulfate (0.6M), gastric phase Pb bioaccessibility was reduced from 1939 ± 17 mg kg−1 to 245 ± 4.7 mg kg−1, while intestinal phase bioaccessibility was reduced from 194 ± 25 mg kg−1 to 11.9 ± 3.5 mg kg−1, driven by the formation of plumbojarosite. In TSP treated soils, there were minor reductions in gastric phase Pb bioaccessibility (to 1631 ± 14 mg kg−1) at the highest TSP concentration (6000 mg kg−1) although greater reductions were observed in the intestinal phase, with bioaccessibility reduced to 9.3 ± 2.2 mg kg−1. Speciation analysis showed that this was primarily driven by the formation of chloropyromorphite in the intestinal phase following Pb and phosphate solubilization in the low pH gastric fluid. At the highest concentration (10% w/w), biochar treated soils showed negligible decreases in Pb bioaccessibility in both gastric and intestinal phases. Validation of bioaccessibility outcomes using an in vivo mouse assay led to similar results, with treatment effect ratios (TER) of 0.20 ± 0.01, 0.76 ± 0.11 and 1.03 ± 0.10 for ferric sulfate (0.6M), TSP (6000 mg kg−1) and biochar (10% w/w) treatments. Results of in vitro and in vivo assays showed that only ferric sulfate treatments were able to significantly reduce As bioaccessibility and bioavailability with TER at the highest application of 0.06 ± 0.00 and 0.14 ± 0.04 respectively. This study highlights the potential application of ferric sulfate treatment for the immobilization of Pb and As in co-contaminated soils.

Two cadmium-resistant strains of agricultural soil effective in remediating soil cadmium pollution

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil is particularly serious and its remediation is particularly important. Microbial passivation or immobilization is a feasible means for remediation of heavy metal contamination. In order to enrich the options for microbial remediation of soil Cd contamination and provide the possibility of efficient remediation, this study screened two Cd-tolerant strains (Bacterium IRHB1–74 and Microbacterium sp. SW615), examined their Cd removal performance, and application effects in potting experiments, and discussed the remediation mechanism from the level of microbial communities. The results revealed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the two strains were 100 and 50 mg·L-1, respectively. Scanning electron microscope, Energy dispersive spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared analyses of the two strains indicated that surface complexation and electrostatic attraction were the main mechanisms employed for Cd biosorption. The use of the two strains caused significant changes in the number of soil microbial community operational taxonomic units and in the abundance of Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, Patescibacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria in the soil, which in turn increased the soil pH, organic matter, available potassium content, and enhanced the urease, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase activities. The two strains effectively reduced the available Cd content in the rhizosphere soil of rape by 32.98%− 60.54%, and reduced the Cd content in the roots and stems of rape by 50.94%− 60.53% and 27.38%− 40.61% Cd, and it was confirmed by plant malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity and other physiological indicators.

Uncovering applicability of Navicula permitis algae in removing phenolic compounds: A promising solution for olive mill wastewater treatment

This work identifies Navicula permitis, freshwater diatom algae, by analyzing its 18S DNAr and testing how well it could grow and remove phenolic compounds at varying concentrations from 50 to 250 mg/L. The changes in the culture's chlorophyll fluorescence were measured when being exposed to stress. The biodegradation of phenolic compounds was tested by analyzing the enzyme activities of phenol hydroxlase and catechol dioxygenase in N. permitis. It was found that N. permitis could withstand up to 145.9 mg/L of phenol concentration. The response surface methodology was used to optimize conditions for N. permitis to degrade phenol with 50.08 mg/L of concentration, 106 cells/mL of N. permitis, and 11.38 days of treatment. Phenol removal by the Navicula permitis followed a zero-order kinetic model, and N. permitis used PHase to breakdown the pollutant. The ortho-pathway played a role in phenol metabolism. While degrading phenol, N. permitis produced biomass, which makes it a promising option for environmental remediation.

Potential natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in fuel contaminated soils: Focusing on anaerobic fuel biodegradation involving microbial Fe(III) reduction

Liquid fossil fuels, collectively known as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), are highly toxic and frequently leak into subsurface environments due to anthropogenic activities. As an in-situ biological remedial option for TPH contamination, aerobic TPH biodegradation is limited due to oxygen's low solubility in water, and because it is consumed quickly by aerobic bacteria. Thus, we investigated the potential of anaerobic TPH degradation by indigenous fermenting bacteria and Fe(III)-reducing bacteria. Twenty 6–10 m soil cores were collected from a closed military base subject to ongoing TPH contamination since the 1980s. Physicochemical and microbial properties were determined at 0.5-m intervals in each core. To assess the relationship between TPH degradation and microbial Fe(III) reduction, soil samples were grouped into high-TPH (>500 mg kg−1) and high-Fe(II) (>450 mg kg−1), high-TPH and low-Fe(II), low-TPH and high-Fe(II), and low-TPH and low-Fe(II) groups. Alpha diversity was significantly lower in high-TPH groups than in low-TPH groups, suggesting that high TPH concentrations exerted a strong selective pressure on bacterial communities. In the high-TPH and low-Fe(II) group, fermenting bacteria, including Microgenomatia and Chlamydiae, were more abundant, suggesting that TPH biodegradation occurred via fermentation. In the high-TPH and high-Fe(II) group, Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, including Geobacter and Zoogloea, were more abundant, suggesting that microbial Fe(III) reduction enhances TPH biodegradation. In contrast, the fermenting and/or Fe(III)-reducing bacteria were not statistically abundant in the low-TPH groups.